How is Entamoeba histolytica transmitted through contaminated food or water?

Entamoeba histolytica is a parasitic protozoan that causes amebic dysentery. The transmission of this microorganism occurs through the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected individual.123

The parasite survives in the environment by forming a protective cyst. These cysts are excreted in the host's feces and can persist in water or soil for weeks. Transmission pathways include:453

• Contaminated Water and Food: Drinking water or eating raw fruits and vegetables that have been contaminated—often where human feces are used as fertilizer—can introduce the cysts into the digestive tract.43
• Mechanical Vectors: Cysts can be spread by flies and cockroaches that carry the organism from fecal matter to food.1
• Poor Hygiene: The disease is frequently transmitted by infected individuals who handle food with unwashed hands.2

Once ingested, the cysts pass into the intestine, where the amoebas are released to infect the new host. Proper sanitation, the adequate disposal of human waste, and boiling drinking water are essential measures to control the spread of this infection.42