Entamoeba

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Entamoeba (ent-ă-mee-bă) n. a genus of widely distributed amoebae. E. coli a harmless intestinal parasite. E. gingivalis a species found between the teeth; it is associated with periodontal disease and gingivitis. E. histolytica a species that invades the intestinal wall, causing amoebic dysentery and ulceration; infection of the liver with this species (amoebic hepatitis) is common in tropical countries.