Entamoeba gingivalis in sputum smears.

Entamoeba gingivalis is a common parasite of the human buccal cavity whose rare appearance in Papanicolaou-stained sputum smears may be missed. Two such cases are described, including the morphologic features of this ameba. The trophozoites were seen to phagocytize leukocytes as well as red blood cells, in distinction to E. histiolytica, which phagocytizes only red blood cells and also can cause pulmonary abscesses. The concomitant finding of Actinomyces sp. organisms in one patient reinforces the possible symbiotic relationship between the two organisms, as has been suggested for their appearance in other extraoral sites, such as the female genital tract.