Cerebral amebiasis is fatal. Cysts are spread from one person to another directly or via contaminated objects or in food or water. People are infectious as long as the cysts are being shed in their feces. When others touch the objects or eat contaminated food, they get the cysts on their hands and into their mouths. When they swallow the cysts, they get infected. Diagnosis is made by examining fecal samples under the microscope for the presence of trophozoites and cysts of Entamoeba histolytica..