E. histolytica/E. dispar cyst in a wet mount stained with iodine. This early cyst has only one nucleus and a glycogen mass can be seen (brown stain)

Amoebiasis, also known as amebiasis or entamoebiasis, is an intestinal infection caused by amoebas of the Entamoeba group. The infection is usually caused by Entamoeba histolytica. The infection is normally got when someone drinks water with the parasite in it.

In some cases, the parasite lives in a person's large intestine and does not cause any symptoms. Symptoms vary from serious to none at all. There may be abdominal pain, mild diarrhoea, bloody diarrhoea or severe colitis with tissue death and perforation. This last complication may cause peritonitis. People affected may develop anaemia due to loss of blood.

Life-cycle of the Entamoeba histolytica