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Published on: October 27, 2013
Canine amoebic meningoencephalitis due to Balamuthia mandrillaris
Rory Chia-Ching Chien1, Corbin R Telford2, Shantanu Roy3
1Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
Abstract:
A 1-year-old Siberian Husky dog with acute-onset of seizures, recumbency, paddling, and muscular fasciculations was autopsied. A locally extensive hemorrhagic and malacic focus was noted in the right cerebral frontal cortex, and severe necrotizing and hemorrhagic, neutrophilic meningoencephalitis was diagnosed microscopically. Amoebic trophozoites and cysts were identified within the affected cerebral parenchyma and confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay and real-time PCR as Balamuthia mandrillaris. B. mandrillaris is found in soil and water and the infection has been reported in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent humans and rarely in the dog.
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