What is the cause of amoebic dysentery?

Amoebic dysentery, also known as amoebic colitis, is specifically caused by an infection with the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. This organism is known to invade the intestinal lining, leading to symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and dysentery, which is characterized by severe diarrhea that may contain blood or mucus.

Understanding the other options helps clarify why Entamoeba histolytica is the correct cause. Cholera toxin is associated with cholera, which arises from Vibrio cholerae and leads to profuse watery diarrhea but is not linked to amoebic dysentery. Streptococcus bacteria can cause a range of infections, particularly in the throat and skin, but they do not cause amoebic dysentery. Clostridium difficile is related to antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis, primarily due to the overgrowth of this bacterium following antibiotic use, but it does not cause amoebic dysentery. Thus, the identification of Entamoeba histolytica as the causative agent is essential in understanding the disease process and treatment of amoebic dysentery.