Entamoeba Medium, 2.5 kg

Amoebiasis occurs throughout all areas of the world, the causative agent of which is Entamoeba histolytica , the only amoeba pathogenic for humans (1-3). In nature, the organism exists in the cyst form. It enters the body through contaminated food or water. The organism passes through the stomach as cyst and the trophozoite amoebas emerge in the intestine. E. histolytica destroys the tissue of the large intestine, causing lesions, deep ulcers and diarrhea (1). Entamoeba Medium formulated by Cleveland and Sanders (4) and Cleveland and Collier (5), is used for the cultivation of E. histolytica . This medium is highly specific for E. histolytica , which grows luxuriantly on this medium. Other intestinal amoebae do not grow readily on this medium. The technique of overlaying the medium with fresh sterile horse serum-saline mixture, as reported by Cleveland and Collier, was reported to be the best method of isolation of E. histolytica (6). Proteose peptone and infusion from liver provide amino acids and other nitrogenous substances that support growth of E. histolytica . Sodium chloride maintains the osmotic balance of the medium and sodium a-glycerophosphate acts as a phosphorous source. Storage and Shelf-life: Store below 30°C in tightly closed container and the prepared medium at 2 - 8°C. Use before expiry date on the label. References: 1. Alcamo I. E., 2001, Fundamentals of Microbiology, 6th Ed., Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 2. Murray P. R., Baron J. H., Pfaller M. A., Jorgensen J. H. and Yolken R. H., (Ed.), 2003, Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 8th Ed., American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C. 3. Bruckner D. A., 1992, Amebiosis. Clin. Microbiol., Rev. 5: 356-369. 4. Cleveland and Sanders, 1930, Arch. Protiskenkunde, 70:223.> 5. Cleveland and Collier, 1930, Am. J. Hyg., 12:606. 6. Sixth Annual Year Book 1935-36, P. 130, Suppl., Am. J. Pub. Health,1936, 26, No. 3.