Nonpathogenic Intestinal Amebae Infection

 

The following intestinal amebae do not make people sick and therefore are called "nonpathogenic".

• Chilomastix mesnili (KYE-low-MASS-ticks mez -KNEE-lye)
   

• Endolimax nana (En-doe-LYE-max NAH-na)
   

• Entamoeba coli (ENT-a-ME-ba KO-lye)
   

• Entamoeba dispar (ENT-a-ME-ba DIS-par)
   

• Entamoeba hartmanni (ENT-a-ME- ba hart-MAHN-ee)
   

• Entamoeba polecki (ENT-A-ME-ba po-LECK-ee)
   

• Iodamoeba buetschlii (eye-ode-a-ME-ba bush-lee-eye)

Where do these amebae live in the body?

These amebae are found only in the intestine and do not harm the body.

How did they get there?

The presence of one or more nonpathogenic amebae in a person's stool indicates that the person swallowed something, such as food or water, that was contaminated with stool that contained the amebae. However, people infected with them may also have been exposed to other organisms in the contaminated stool that could make them sick.

Are these amebae the cause of my illness?

If you have symptoms, such as diarrhea, the cause of your illness is not the amebae. You and your health care provider should look for another cause. The cause may be infectious, such as infection with a parasite, virus or bacterium, or noninfectious, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

I have a week immune system, am I at greater risk of developing illness from these amebae?

No. Studies have shown that these amebae do not make people sick, even those who have a weakened immune system. Persons with a weakened immune system may include those with HIV/AIDS, individuals taking certain types of chemotherapy or people who have recently received an organ transplant.

How long do these amebae stay in my body?

These amebae can remain in a person's intestines for weeks, months or years.

Should I be treated for these amebae?

No. These amebae do not harm the body and do not require treatment.

CDC, Department of Health & Human Services, 1998