Endolimax

Endolimax
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Phylum:
Amoebozoa
Subphylum:
Conosa
Class:
Archamoebea
Order:
Pelobiontida
Family:
Mastigamoebidae
Genus:
Endolimax

Kuenen & Swellengrebel, 1913

Endolimax is a genus of amoebozoa[1] that are found in the intestines of various animals, including the species E. nana found in humans. Originally thought to be non-pathogenic, studies suggest it can cause intermittent or chronic diarrhea.[2][3] Additionally, it is very significant in medicine because it can provide false positives for other tests, notably the similar species Entamoeba histolytica, the pathogen responsible for amoebic dysentery, and because its presence indicates the host has consumed fecal material. It forms cysts with four nuclei which excyst in the body and become trophozoites. Endolimax nana nuclei have a large endosome somewhat off-center and small amounts of visible chromatin or none at all.

  1. ^ Silberman JD, Clark CG, Diamond LS, Sogin ML (December 1999). "Phylogeny of the genera Entamoeba and Endolimax as deduced from small-subunit ribosomal RNA sequences". Mol. Biol. Evol. 16 (12): 1740–51. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a026086. PMID 10605115.
  2. ^ John Q. Stauffer MD & W. L. Levine (January 1974). "Chronic diarrhea related to Endolimax Nana". Parasitology Research. 19 (1): 59–63. doi:10.1007/BF01073354. PMID 4809031. S2CID 23720692.
  3. ^ Thaddeus K. Graczyk; Clive K. Shiff; Leena Tamang; Fair Munsaka; Anna M. Beitin & William J. Moss (December 2005). "The association of Blastocystis hominis and Endolimax nana with diarrheal stools in Zambian school-age children". Digestive Diseases and Sciences. 98 (1): 38–43. doi:10.1007/s00436-005-0003-0. PMID 16249910. S2CID 33460127.