• Considered a non-pathogen

• Cyst and trophozoite are larger than E.

histolytica
• A stained smear is required to
differentiate E. coli and E. histolytica
trophs
• Cysts contain 8 nuclei
• Hyper nucleation is possible resulting to
16 or more nuclei
• trophozoites possess a single nucleus
with a characteristically large, eccentric
karyosome and coarse, irregular
peripheral chromatin
 Trophozoites possess a single
nucleus with a characteristically
large, eccentric karyosome and
coarse, irregular peripheral
chromatin
  The only species in the genus
encountered in humans with more
than four nuclei in the cyst stage
CYST TROPHOZOITE
 TROPHOZOITE IN
CYST IN TRICHROME TRICHROME
 Non pathogenic
 Known to be the first amoeba in
humans to be described
 Found in the mouth between the
gingival pockets
 Found in 95% of people with gum
disease and 50% with healthy gums
 Cyst stage is not present therefore
transmission is through kissing or
sharing utensils
 Troph are between 10-20 micrometer
 Pseudopodia present
 Troph may be coughed up; should be
differentiated from E. histolytica which
can be found in sputum from pulmonary
abscess
 Morphologically identical with E. histolytica
 Different DNA and ribosomal RNA
 Differentiated through PCR or genome
sequencing
 Cysts have 4 nuclei that characteristically
have centrally located karyosomes and
fine, uniformly distributed peripheral
chromatin
 Usually measure 12 to 15 µm
 Important in studies concerning E.
histolytica pathogenicity
 Killing of host cells yet it is non-
pathogenic, the molecular reason for
this is still in question
 Three nuclei are
visible in the focal
plane (black
arrows), and the
cyst contains a
chromatoid body
with typically
blunted ends (red
arrow)
• Trophozoites have a single nucleus
• Centrally placed karyosome and uniformly
distributed peripheral chromatin
• Erythrophagocytosis (ingestion of red blood
cells by the parasite) is the only
morphologic characteristic that can be used
to differentiate E. histolytica from the
nonpathogenic E. dispar.  However,
erythrophagocytosis is not typically
observed on stained smears of E. histolytica
Troph of E. Troph of E.
histolytica/E. histolytica with
dispar erythrophagocytosis