Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 28, 2026

Discovery of New Intracellular Pathogens by Amoebal Coculture and Amoebal Enrichment Approaches
09:04

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

Published on: October 28, 2013

[Human pathology caused by free-living amoebae]

M Scaglia1

  • 1Laboratori di Ricerca di Area Infettivologica, Università degli Studi, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia.

Annali Dell'Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
|January 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

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.

More Related Videos

Analysis of the Epithelial Damage Produced by Entamoeba histolytica Infection11:49

Analysis of the Epithelial Damage Produced by Entamoeba histolytica Infection

Published on: June 12, 2014

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

Related Concept Videos

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...
Leishmaniasis01:30

Leishmaniasis

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...
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...
Giardiasis01:12

Giardiasis

Giardiasis is a globally prevalent intestinal infection caused by the protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis (also known as G. lamblia or G. intestinalis). This flagellated protozoan is the most frequently identified intestinal parasite in the United States and worldwide. Transmission primarily occurs via the fecal-oral route, with infection arising from ingestion of water or food contaminated with cysts. Individuals in low-resource settings, international travelers, outdoor enthusiasts, daycare...
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...