Surgical Amoebiasis

Abstract

Amoebiasis, caused by the unicellular Entamoeba histolytica, is a universal problem. It has been estimated that 5 to 10 percent of the population of the United States pass the parasite in their stools. However, Burroughs [1] concluded from 166 published papers (1945 to 1960) that above 1 percent or less of the population of Alaska and Canada and less than 5 percent of the population of the United States harbour the parasite. Magath [2] feels that the higher estimate may be due to a failure of laboratory technicians to differentiate E. hartmanni, E. polecki and E. histolytica. Warm climates favour the persistence of the cysts outside the human host and this may account for the higher incidence of the disease in tropical and semitropical regions. The demand for knowledge about the protean manifestations of amoebiasis becomes more imperative since intercontinental travel has become easier.