Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Quantification of Acanthamoeba spp. Motility
07:33

Quantification of Acanthamoeba spp. Motility

Published on: September 20, 2024

[Keratitis due to Acanthamoeba]

Julio Pérez-Irezábal1, Inés Martínez, Patricia Isasa

  • 1Servicio de Microbiología y Parasitología, Hospital de Cruces, Baracaldo, Vizcaya, España. jperez-irezabal@hcru.osakidetza.net

Enfermedades Infecciosas Y Microbiologia Clinica
|November 28, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Free-living amebae like Acanthamoeba cause serious eye infections, particularly amebic keratitis, in contact lens wearers. This review covers Acanthamoeba

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Ophthalmology

Context:

  • Acanthamoeba, Naegleria, and Balamuthia are common environmental protozoa with global distribution.
  • While generally harmless, Acanthamoeba can cause severe diseases like granulomatous amebic encephalitis and amebic keratitis.
  • Amebic keratitis is a painful eye infection often linked to contact lens use and poor hygiene.

Purpose:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of Acanthamoeba.
  • To detail the morphology, life-cycle, and epidemiology of Acanthamoeba.
  • To discuss diagnostic methods, treatments, and prevention strategies for Acanthamoeba infections.

Summary:

  • Acanthamoeba species are identified as the primary cause of amebic keratitis, an increasingly prevalent eye condition.
  • The rise in cases is strongly associated with contact lens wear, especially hydrogel lenses, and inadequate lens care.
  • This review synthesizes current knowledge on Acanthamoeba, including its characteristics, disease causation, and management.

Impact:

  • Highlights the link between contact lens practices and Acanthamoeba keratitis incidence.
  • Informs healthcare professionals and the public about risks and prevention measures.
  • Aims to reduce the burden of this painful and potentially sight-threatening infection.

More Related Videos

Complementary Use of Microscopic Techniques and Fluorescence Reading in Studying Cryptococcus-Amoeba Interactions10:56

Complementary Use of Microscopic Techniques and Fluorescence Reading in Studying Cryptococcus-Amoeba Interactions

Published on: June 22, 2019

Discovery of New Intracellular Pathogens by Amoebal Coculture and Amoebal Enrichment Approaches09:04

Discovery of New Intracellular Pathogens by Amoebal Coculture and Amoebal Enrichment Approaches

Published on: October 27, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Amebiasis01:28

Amebiasis

Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
Diversity of Protists IV01:27

Diversity of Protists IV

Amoebozoa represent a diverse group of terrestrial and aquatic protists that utilize lobe-shaped pseudopodia for locomotion and feeding. This characteristic differentiates them from the Rhizaria, which possess threadlike pseudopodia. The primary classifications within Amoebozoa include gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and the plasmodial and cellular slime molds. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that Amoebozoa diverged from a lineage that ultimately gave rise to fungi and animals.Gymnamoebas and...
Brain Abscess l: Introduction01:26

Brain Abscess l: Introduction

A brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection characterized by a localized collection of pus within the brain parenchyma, resulting from microbial invasion and the body’s inflammatory response. It progresses through stages: early and late cerebritis, followed by early and late capsule formation, reflecting tissue destruction, immune response, and eventual encapsulation.Etiology and PathogenesisCausative organisms vary with source and host factors, often involving polymicrobial infections,...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...