Amoebic brain abscess is an affliction caused by the anaerobic parasitic protist Entamoeba histolytica.

[2] Brain abscesses resulting from Entamoeba histolytica are difficult to diagnose and very few case reports suggest complete recovery even after the administration of appropriate treatment regimen.

[1] Once the trophozoites undergo excystation in the terminal ileum region, they colonize the large bowel, remaining on the surface of the mucus layer and feeding on bacteria and food particles.

The parasite has several enzymes such as pore forming proteins, lipases, and cysteine proteases, which are normally used to digest bacteria in food vacuoles.

However, these enzymes can cause lysis of the epithelial cells by inducing cellular necrosis and apoptosis when the trophozoites come in contact with them and bind via the lectin.

However, direct examination of the abscess capsule may exhibit necrotic material, foamy histiocytes, rare eosinophills and ingested erythrocytes.