Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 21, 2026

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain
05:51

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain

Published on: July 24, 2016

Is Acanthamoeba encephalitis an opportunistic infection?

A J Martínez

    Neurology
    |June 1, 1980
    PubMed

    Insights

    Opportunistic amebic infections like granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) are more common in immunocompromised patients. These infections, caused by Acanthamoeba, differ from primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) in healthy individuals exposed to water.

    Area of Science:

    • Medical Microbiology
    • Immunology
    • Infectious Diseases

    Background:

    • Granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) is a rare but severe infection caused by Acanthamoeba.
    • Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), caused by Naegleria fowleri, affects healthy individuals with water exposure.
    • Immunosuppressive therapy is a known risk factor for opportunistic infections.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of GAE in immunocompromised patients.
    • To differentiate GAE from PAM based on patient demographics and exposure history.
    • To explore the role of immunosuppression in the pathogenesis of opportunistic amebic infections.

    Main Methods:

    • Retrospective case series of 15 patients with GAE.
    • Analysis of patient medical histories, including underlying illnesses and treatments.
    • Comparison of GAE patient profiles with typical PAM cases.

    Main Results:

    • GAE patients were chronically ill, debilitated, and often on immunosuppressive therapy (steroids, chemotherapy, antibiotics).
    • None of the GAE patients had a history of swimming or aquatic activities.
    • Opportunistic amebic infections were more frequent in patients receiving immunosuppressive treatments.

    Conclusions:

    • GAE primarily affects immunocompromised individuals, contrasting with PAM in healthy individuals.
    • Depressed cell-mediated immunity likely contributes to the pathogenesis of opportunistic amebic infections.
    • Acanthamoeba infections should be considered in debilitated patients with neurological symptoms, particularly those on immunosuppressive therapy.

    More Related Videos

    Concomitant Isolation of Primary Astrocytes and Microglia for Protozoa Parasite Infection09:34

    Concomitant Isolation of Primary Astrocytes and Microglia for Protozoa Parasite Infection

    Published on: March 18, 2020

    Quantification of Acanthamoeba spp. Motility07:33

    Quantification of Acanthamoeba spp. Motility

    Published on: September 20, 2024

    Related Concept Videos

    Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

    Arboviral Encephalitis

    Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
    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,...
    Toxoplasmosis01:28

    Toxoplasmosis

    Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant public health challenges globally due to its high seroprevalence and varied clinical manifestations. As an obligate intracellular parasite, T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, but felids are its only definitive hosts, shedding unsporulated oocysts into the environment. Humans typically acquire the infection through ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from...
    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...
    Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

    Encephalitis l: Introduction

    Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
    Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

    Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

    Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...