Nonpathogenic Intestinal Protozoa
What Are Nonpathogenic Intestinal Protozoa?
Nonpathogenic intestinal protozoa are one-celled parasites that are commonly found only in the lumen (cavity) of the intestinal tract.
They are not found in the cells that line the intestines and they do not spread to other parts of the body.
These protozoa are harmless, do not cause illness, and do not require treatment.
They do not harm the body, even in people with weak immune systems.
They are detected by a microscopic examination of stool specimens.
These protozoa can stay in the intestines for weeks, months, or years.
How Do People Get Nonpathogenic Intestinal Protozoa?
People can get nonpathogenic intestinal protozoa by swallowing them, for example, by ingesting food or water that is contaminated with feces. This is called fecal-oral transmission. The presence of nonpathogenic protozoa in your stool simply indicates that you had a fecal exposure sometime in the past.
Nonpathogenic Intestinal Protozoa Include:
- Chilomastix mesnili (KYE-low-MASS-ticks mez-KNEE-lye)
- Endolimax nana (En-doe-LYE-max NAH-na)
- Entamoeba coli (ENT-a-ME-ba KO-lye)
- Entamoeba dispar (ENT-a-ME-ba DIS-par)
- Entamoeba hartmanni (ENT-a-ME-ba hart-MAHN-ee)
- Iodamoeba buetschlii (eye-ODE-a-ME-ba bush-lee-eye)
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Division of Parasitic Diseases
February 7, 2008
www.cdc.gov/
This information is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider. If you have any questions or think that you may have a parasitic infection, consult a health care provider.