Amebiasis is one of the most significant parasite problems of captive snakes and lizards. This highly contagious disease is caused by a microscopic, one-celled organism (protozoan) Entamoeba invadens. Eating contaminated food and water containing the infective stage of this parasite easily infects snakes. The organisms cause extensive damage to the intestinal lining and liver. Signs of amebiasis include listlessness, inappetence, and foul-smelling feces containing mucus and blood. The disease may spread rapidly through a group of snakes, and mortality may reach 100%. Some specific mechanisms of cytotoxicity and invasion have been investigated. E. invadens have thiol dependent protease activity that may be involved in cytotoxicity. Temperature has a significant effect on amoebiasis infections in snakes. The infection will die out at high temperatures, and the organism will lose its pathogenicity at a low temperature of 13 °C.

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