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[Human pathology caused by free-living amoebae]
1Laboratori di Ricerca di Area Infettivologica, Università degli Studi, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia.
Annali Dell'Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba, and Balamuthia are free-living amoebae causing human diseases. These pathogens can lead to severe brain infections like primary amoebic meningoencephalitis or granulomatous encephalitis, and Acanthamoeba can cause eye infections.
Area of Science:
- Neuroparasitology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Free-living amoebae (FLA) such as Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba spp., and Balamuthia mandrillaris are increasingly recognized as significant human pathogens.
- FLA infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are rare but often fatal, posing a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.
Purpose:
- To differentiate the clinical presentations and pathological mechanisms of CNS diseases caused by N. fowleri, Acanthamoeba spp., and B. mandrillaris.
- To highlight the distinct epidemiological and clinical features of infections caused by these amoebae.
Summary:
- Naegleria fowleri causes acute primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a fulminant necrotizing hemorrhagic meningoencephalitis, typically acquired through freshwater exposure.
- Acanthamoeba spp. and Balamuthia mandrillaris cause chronic granulomatous encephalitis in immunocompromised individuals, often via hematogenous spread from lung or skin foci.
- Acanthamoeba spp. are also a major cause of severe keratitis, particularly in contact lens wearers.
Impact:
- This review clarifies the distinct pathologies and transmission routes of amoebic CNS infections, aiding in diagnosis and management.
- Understanding these differences is crucial for public health interventions and clinical decision-making in suspected cases of amoebic encephalitis or keratitis.