E.<unk>  trophozoites can be distinguished by their wide and tapered pseudopodia. They are often mistaken for E. histolytica due to their overlap in size. The cysts are distinguished by noticing the eight nuclei found in the mature form. To diagnosis for E.<unk> , a stool sample is usually tested. This is the best method to check to see if the parasite is E.<unk>  and not E. histolytica. This usually involves checking the cysts for the size, shape, and the number of nuclei. E.<unk>  has cysts in size to 10 to 35 micrometers, the shape is irregular, oval with a shell-like appearance that is more uniformed compared to E. histolytica, and has up to eight nuclei in the cyst compared to the four nuclei of E. histolytica. To the untrained eye of by inexperienced microbiologists, "tetranucleate cysts of<unk>  can be mistaken for mature cysts of Entamoeba histolytica" Often " a tetranucleate<unk>  cyst is larger than a mature cyst of Entamoeba histolytica, can be variable in shape, and has nuclear peripheral chromatin and karyosome composed of irregular granules" in this matter of comparison. To make a diagnosis for any Entamoeba species, usually a wet mount is created "by finding the characteristic cysts in an iodine stained, formol-ether concentration method or by detecting the characteristic trophozoites in a wet preparation or a permanent stained preparation" to see what they may look like. Also, these stains of trichrome can be used to mount the cysts of any Entamoeba spp. Other tests can be used to diagnosis for Entamoeba spp. These tests involve the use of laboratory methods. Some of these laboratory tests include: the use of light microscopy, culture methods, isoenzyme analysis, antibody detection tests, antigen detection tests, immunochromatographic assays, and DNA-based diagnostic tests. Some uses of microscopy also involve the use of transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Usually, the cysts are freeze fractured to insure that the samples are easier to look at to compare Entamoeba spp. The DNA-based diagnostic tests include the use of DNA extraction, PCR, microarrays, and typing methods.For example, one DNA-based diagnostic test that is changing how Entamoeba spp. is being diagnosis faster and more accurate is by using the "Reverse Line Hybridization Assay" test. This test main purpose is to detect and different Entamoeba spp. in stool samples in order to find the causative agent of amoebic dysentery, E. histolytica. This test involves the use of gene sequencing, and seeing what different genomes each Entamoeba spp. has to help detect the deadly E. histolytica.
Entamoeba coli
Entamoeba histolytica
Ascaris lumbricoides
Entamoeba moshkovskii
Schistosoma haematobium
Schistosoma mansoni
Taenia solium
Cryptosporidium parvum