According to Hartmann and Whitmore (1911)[13], however, autogamy does not occur within the cysts of E. coli. They consider that eight small amœbulæ are formed (fig. 3, 2-10) which escape from the cyst and then conjugate in pairs (fig. 3, 10-12), afterwards growing into a new generation of trophozoites.
Only some 10 to 20 per cent. of the cysts evacuated with the fæces undergo the full course of development, the majority perish previously. In old dry fæces, only cysts with eight nuclei are found, and it is these alone that cause the infection.
Entamœba williamsi, E. bütschlii, E. hartmanni and E. poleki (Prowazek) are probably only varieties of E. coli.
Fig. 4.—So-called autogamy of Entamœba coli. A, rounded amœba; B, nucleus dividing; C, the two daughter-nuclei giving off chromidia; D, each nucleus has formed two reduction nuclei; E, cyst membrane formed, and gamete nuclei are dividing; F, cyst with two synkarya.
The principal feature distinguishing Entamœba coli from E. histolytica is the formation of eight-nucleate cysts by the former as contrasted with the tetra-nucleate cysts of the latter. The cyst-wall of E. coli is thicker than that of E. histolytica (tetragena). Further, E. coli does not usually ingest red blood corpuscles, nor are “chromidial blocks” present inside its cyst (see p. [40]).
According to Chatton and Lalung-Bonnaire[14] (1912) the entamœbæ of vertebrates should be placed in a separate genus Löschia, as they differ in their life-history from E. blattæ, the type species of Entamœba. Leidy (1879), however, named the genus Endamœba, but further researches are necessary on biological variation among these organisms.
Entamœba histolytica, Schaudinn, 1903.
Syn.: Amœba coli, autt. p. p. Amœba dysenteriæ, autt. p. p.