Most cases of amebic dysentary are caused by this water borne pathogen residing in the gut. However, at times it can penetrate the intestinal wall and infect the rest of the body. The Entomeba has not evolved to survive in these areas, and most of the time it is quickly killed by the new environment. However, the conditions in the liver are very close to those found in the small intestine, and should the parasite find its way there, it is able to survive. It feeds on the liver cell much as it feeds on the cells of the gut--by secreating a poison and eating the dead cells.

While rare, a liver infection caused by entomeba is serious. The body forms abcesses around the organism, and as the colony of entomeba grows, this abcess may press and damage adjacent tissue. This causes jaundice and pain. Luckily, however, these abcesses rarely rupture.