[The cell biology of amebas and ameba-flagellates--parasites of man and animals].
The majority of parasitic amoebae and amoeba-flagellates are facultative parasites of animals and humans and only a few of them are obligate parasites (see reviews: Sopina, 1997; Visvesvara, Stehr-Green, 1990). Among the latter Entamoeba histolytica and among the former Naegleria fowleri and several species of Acanthamoeba are most dangerous for humans. It is still unclear whether Balamuthia mandrillaris, pathogenic for monkeys and humans, may be either obligate or facultative parasite (Visvesvara et al., 1993). Endolimax nana and Iodamoeba butschlii are commensals of humans and some animals. This review is devoted to cell biology of the above genera to provide a better understanding of cell-biological aspects of interrelations between these parasites and their hosts. In the Russian text-books on medical and veterinary parasitology these parasitic protozoa have never been regarded in terms of cell biology, and the available information seems to become out of date. This review is aimed to fill these gaps. Evidence on the ultrastructure of the above parasites, in particular that of their mitotic chromosomes, mechanisms of attachment to substratum of many of these, of locomotion and endocytosis, is provided and discussed in addition to the problem of differentiation of Naegleria amoebae into flagellates.
Sopina
V A
VA
D000562:Amebiasis / Q000469:parasitology; D000656:Amoeba / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000469:parasitology