Aamoebic liver abscess is a type ofliver abscess caused byamebiasis.[1] It is the involvement of liver tissue by trophozoites of the organismEntamoeba histolytica and of its abscess due to necrosis.
Approximately 90% of patients withE histolytica are asymptomatic.[2] The two most common manifestations ofE histolytica includecolitis (bloody stool with mucus, abdominal pain, and/or diarrhea), and discovery of a liver abscess on imaging.[2] Liver abscesses commonly present as right upper quadrant abdominal pain and fever, with worsening features associated with abscess rupture.[2]
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRC) image showing a voluminous and heterogeneous collection in the left liver lobe (amoebic abscess)
Due to the difficulty of exploring host and amebic factors involved in the pathogenesis of amebic liver abscess in humans, most studies have been conducted with animal models (e.g.,mice,gerbils, andhamsters). Histopathological findings revealed that the chronic phase of amebic liver abscess in humans corresponds to lytic or liquefactivenecrosis, whereas in rodent models there is granulomatousinflammation. However, the use ofanimal models has provided important information on molecules and mechanisms of the host/parasite interaction in amebic liver abscess.[4]
