A patient presents with severe bloody diarrhea for the last three days and right upper quadrant pain. Stool analysis reveals cysts with 4 nuclei. This patient is most likely infected with which of the following?
Acanthoamoeba
Acanthoamoeba
Cryptosporidium
Entamoeba histolytica
Giardia lamblia
Leishmania donovani
Correct answer
Entamoeba histolytica
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correct answer: C
The symptoms are a classical presentation of Entamoeba histolytica infection: bloody diarrhea (dysentery) and right upper quadrant pain. This amoeba can frequently cause liver abscesses, and can be diagnosed by observing 4-nucleated cysts in the stool. Ingested RBCs inside the amoebas and flask-shaped ulcerations in the mucosa/submucosa can also be used for diagnosis.
The other parasites listed typically do not cause bloody diarrhea.