Entamoeba invadens

Entamoeba invadens
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Phylum:	Amoebozoa
Class:	Archamoebae
Order:	Amoebida
Genus:	Entamoeba
Species:	E. invadens
Binomial name
Entamoeba invadens Rodhaim, 1934

Entamoeba invadens is an amoebozoa parasite of reptiles, within the genus Entamoeba. It is closely related to the human parasite Entamoeba histolytica, causing similar invasive disease in reptiles, in addition to a similar morphology and lifecycle.

Entamoeba invadens is a causative agent of amoebiasis in reptiles, such as snakes and lizards. Reptile amoebiasis can be treated with metronidazole, an amoebicide drug.

Entamoeba invadens is primarily transmitted via the ingestion of contaminated faeces, also known as the faecal-oral route. It has two distinct lifecycle stages. The first is a resistant cyst stage, which is transmitted outside of a host, and is also known as the infectious stage. The second is the motile trophozoite stage, which is released from the cyst following introduction into the host environment, and is the disease-causing (pathogenic) stage.

While there is no specialised intermediate vector stage, contaminated faeces can be transmitted to food sources by some arthropods (e.g. flies and cockroaches), where E. invadens may be ingested. Symptomless carriers of E. invadens, such as crocodilians, may act as a reservoir of infection, particularly in captivity.

Entamoeba invadens has been used as a model system for studying development, and encystation in vitro, particularly due to difficulties associated with studying encystation in the closely related human parasite E. histolytica.

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