ABSTRACT

In one-third of the patients with amoebiasis, amoebic liver abscess (ALA) may occur after the penetration of amoebic trophozoites through the intestinal wall. ALA is seen mostly among men aged 20-45 years with a serious clinical outcome, with fever and abdominal pain on the right upper quadrant. Most patients have no recent history of amoebic colitis; indeed, they have neither gastrointestinal complaints nor Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) cysts/trophozoites in their stools. Therefore, ultrasonography and serology are primary in ALA diagnosis, while searching for E. histolytica DNA in abscess fluid using PCR has been preferred as an effective and reliable method, lately. Early antimicrobial therapy is effective; however, for cases irresponsive to therapy after 72 hours and with large abscess, drainage or surgical intervention is indicated. If left untreated, ALA may disseminate to other organs and cause death. The data concerning the extra-intestinal manifestations of amebiasis in Turkey are limited. Here, a rare case of a young man with an initial diagnosis of pneumonia followed by the identification of ALA after radiological interventions and laboratory tests is presented and the relevant literature is discussed. (Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2015; 39: 70-4)

Keywords: Amebiasis, entamoeba histolytica, liver abcess, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)