Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026
07:33
Quantification of Acanthamoeba spp. Motility
Published on: September 20, 2024
Acanthamoeba sclerokeratitis.
Katayoon B Ebrahimi1, W Richard Green, Rhonda Grebe
1Eye Pathology Laboratory and Cornea/External Disease Service, Wilmer Eye Institute and Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Summary
Acanthamoeba scleritis, a severe complication of acanthamoeba keratitis, can involve scleral invasion. This case highlights Acanthamoeba trophozoites in the sclera, potentially driving inflammation and necrotizing scleritis.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathology
Background:
- Acanthamoeba keratitis can lead to Acanthamoeba scleritis, a severe ocular complication.
- This study details a case of Acanthamoeba sclerokeratitis following prior treatment for Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Observation:
- A patient with a history of penetrating keratoplasty for Acanthamoeba keratitis developed nodular necrotizing scleritis.
- Viable Acanthamoeba was cultured from the affected scleral tissue.
- The patient underwent enucleation due to persistent Acanthamoeba sclerokeratitis.
Findings:
- Histopathology confirmed Acanthamoeba invasion into the sclera.
- Trophozoites were identified in the scleral tissue, though not at the cryotherapy site.
- The presence of Acanthamoeba trophozoites in the sclera is linked to immune response exacerbation.
Implications:
- This case provides evidence of Acanthamoeba organisms invading scleral tissue.
- Scleral invasion by Acanthamoeba may contribute to the development of nodular scleritis.
- Understanding this pathway is crucial for managing severe Acanthamoeba infections of the eye.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Amebiasis
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...
01:28Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment
Angle-closure glaucoma, or closed-angle glaucoma, is an eye condition where the iris bulges out and blocks the iridocorneal angle, resulting in a buildup of aqueous humor and increased intraocular pressure. Immediate medical attention is necessary due to the sudden onset of symptoms. The treatment for angle-closure glaucoma includes short-term and long-term approaches. Short-term treatment involves using eye drops like pilocarpine to lower intraocular pressure by increasing aqueous humor...
01:27Cryptococcal 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,...
01:28Fungal 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...
01:25Glaucoma: Overview
Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
01:30Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis is a protozoal disease caused by species of the genus Leishmania and transmitted through the bite of infected female sandflies. The parasite exists in two principal morphological forms during its life cycle. A sandfly acquires intracellular amastigotes from an infected reservoir host, such as a dog. Within the sandfly, these forms differentiate into motile, flagellated promastigotes. During a subsequent blood meal, promastigotes are injected into the human host, where they...