Studies on the ameba-bacteria relationship in amebiasis. II. Some concepts on the etiology of the disease.

Abstract

SummaryEntamoeba histolytica has failed either to survive for more than a few days or to produce lesions following its introduction into the ceca of germfree guinea pigs. Investigations of certain physical characteristics of the germfree cecum provided no conclusive explanation for this phenomenon. Small, localized, amebic lesions occurred in traumatized tissues or adjacent to the sites of amebic inoculation in germfree guinea pigs which received certain chemical or biological preparations. In these instances, however, the conventional amebic disease did not develop and the lesions were confined to small areas by the defenses of the host. It was concluded that bacteria are involved essentially in the etiology of intestinal amebiasis and that synergism of ameba and bacteria is a prerequisite to development of the disease.