ABSTRACT
The ubiquitous presence of free-living amebas in nature suggests the possibility that they may live in domestic and wild animals as parasites or that they may infect and produce disease in them. Therefore, the public health implications, as well as interest in these protozoa by medical and veterinary science, are obvious. Naturally occurring infections due to Acanthamoeba spp. have been reported in several mammals: buffalo, cattle, bull, sheep, gibbon, dog, and wallaroo or kangaroo. Pigeons, turkeys, and other fowl may harbor and act as natural hosts of amphizoic and free-living amebas. In fact, free-living amebas have been found in their gastrointestinal tracts. The mammalian hosts may remain healthy or develop lesions; they include horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, gnus, rabbits, guinea pigs, ground squirrels, monkeys, rats and mice. Pigeons, turkeys, and other fowl may harbor and act as natural hosts of amphizoic and free-living amebas. In fact, free-living amebas have been found in their gastrointestinal tracts.
