Free Living Amoebic Infections: Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Kofman ◽  
Jeannette Guarner
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Neurological Disease ◽  
Clinical Microbiology ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Infectious Agents ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis ◽  
Amoebic Meningoencephalitis ◽  
Treatment Mortality ◽  
Prompt Diagnosis

Infections caused by Naegleria fowleri , Acanthamoeba spp., and Balamuthia mandrillaris result in a variety of clinical manifestations in humans. These amoebae are found in water and soil worldwide. Acanthamoeba spp. and B. mandrillaris cause granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, which usually presents as a mass, while N. fowleri causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. Acanthamoeba spp. can also cause keratitis, and both Acanthamoeba spp. and B. mandrillaris can cause lesions in skin and respiratory mucosa. These amoebae can be difficult to diagnose clinically as these infections are rare and, if not suspected, can be misdiagnosed with other more common diseases. Microscopy continues to be the key first step in diagnosis but the amoeba can be confused with macrophages or other infectious agents if an expert in infectious disease pathology or clinical microbiology is not consulted. Although molecular methods can be helpful in establishing the diagnosis, these are only available in referral centers. Treatment requires combination of antibiotics and antifungals and, even with prompt diagnosis and treatment, mortality for neurological disease is extremely high.

scholarly journals Various brain-eating amoebae: the protozoa, the pathogenesis, and the disease

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongze Zhang ◽  
Xunjia Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Laboratory Findings ◽  
Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis ◽  
Serious Infections ◽  
Present Information ◽  
Causative Agents ◽  
Children And Young Adults

AbstractAmong various genera of free-living amoebae prevalent in nature, some members are identified as causative agents of human encephalitis, in which Naegleria fowleri followed by Acanthamoeba spp. and Balamuthia mandrillaris have been successively discovered. As the three dominant genera responsible for infections, Acanthamoeba and Balamuthia work as opportunistic pathogens of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals, whereas Naegleria induces primary amoebic meningoencephalitis mostly in healthy children and young adults as a more violent and deadly disease. Due to the lack of typical symptoms and laboratory findings, all these amoebic encephalitic diseases are difficult to diagnose. Considering that subsequent therapies are also affected, all these brain infections cause significant mortality worldwide, with more than 90% of the cases being fatal. Along with global warming and population explosion, expanding areas of human and amoebae activity in some regions lead to increased contact, resulting in more serious infections and drawing increased public attention. In this review, we summarize the present information of these pathogenic free-living amoebae, including their phylogeny, classification, biology, and ecology. The mechanisms of pathogenesis, immunology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, epidemiology, diagnosis, and therapies are also discussed.

Comparative analyses of different genetic markers for the detection of Acanthamoeba spp. isolates

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Derda ◽  
Agnieszka Wojtkowiak-Giera ◽  
Edward Hadaś
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Markers ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Correct Diagnosis ◽  
Specific Marker ◽  
Pcr Assay ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Detection And Identification ◽  
Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis ◽  
Free Living Amoeba ◽  
Treatment Of Infection

AbstractAcanthamoeba are widespread free-living amoebae which may cause granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE), keratitis, skin ulcerations and disseminated tissue infection. An important diagnostic and prognostic factor for the treatment of infection is a quick and correct diagnosis of amoebae strains. The aim of our study was to develop a rapid method for detection and identification of pathogenic Acanthamoeba spp. strains from diagnostic material collected from water. In this study we analysed five amplification-based genetic markers (Aca 16S, Ac6/210, GP, JDP, Nelson) used for identification of pathogenic Acanthamoeba spp. strains isolated in water sources in Poland, Iceland and Sweden. Our results demonstrated the presence of pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains in tap water. PCR assay appeared to be a more rapid and sensitive method to detect the presence of amoebae than the limited conventional techniques. Based on our observations, we can confirm that the use of four out of five genetic markers (Aca 16S, Ac 6/210, JDP, GP, Nelson) may be helpful in identification of Acanthamoeba spp. strains, but only one Aca 16S primer pair is a highly specific marker that distinguishes between pathogenic strains of Acanthamoeba and other free-living amoeba families.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Stewardship: How the Microbiology Laboratory Can Right the Ship

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 381-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Morency-Potvin ◽  
David N. Schwartz ◽  
Robert A. Weinstein
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽  
Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽  
Clinical Microbiology ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Microbiology Laboratory ◽  
Provider Education ◽  
Health Care Settings ◽  
Comprehensive Discussion

SUMMARY Antimicrobial stewardship is a bundle of integrated interventions employed to optimize the use of antimicrobials in health care settings. While infectious-disease-trained physicians, with clinical pharmacists, are considered the main leaders of antimicrobial stewardship programs, clinical microbiologists can play a key role in these programs. This review is intended to provide a comprehensive discussion of the different components of antimicrobial stewardship in which microbiology laboratories and clinical microbiologists can make significant contributions, including cumulative antimicrobial susceptibility reports, enhanced culture and susceptibility reports, guidance in the preanalytic phase, rapid diagnostic test availability, provider education, and alert and surveillance systems. In reviewing this material, we emphasize how the rapid, and especially the recent, evolution of clinical microbiology has reinforced the importance of clinical microbiologists' collaboration with antimicrobial stewardship programs.

Complex multi-system illnesses occurring within a family: Presumptive evidence for an infectious disease process

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-36
Author(s):  
W John Martin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Learning Disorders ◽  
Infectious Agents ◽  
Definitive Evidence ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Manifestations

Society is witnessing an increasing incidence of illnesses with neuropsychiatric manifestations. Prominent examples include autism and learning disorders in children, depression and chronic fatigue syndrome in adults and neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly. Although clinically diverse, all of these illnesses could be contributed to by infectious agents. If so, one might expect to trace the occurrence and progression of various brain damaging illnesses among various family members. An example of this occurring in three generations of a family was unsuccessfully submitted for publication in another journal 2015; in part because of its Public Health implications. It is submitted to this journal because of definitive evidence for the transmission to humans of infectious cellular sequences incorporated into monkey-derived stealth adapted viruses.

Identification of Infectious Disease Agents: Unusual and usual Pathogens and the Diagnostic Difficulties they Present

2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (S2) ◽  
pp. 642-643
Author(s):  
CD Humphrey
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Infectious Agents ◽  
Identification Methods ◽  
Species Migration ◽  
The Past ◽  
Ecological Changes ◽  
Diagnostic Difficulties ◽  
Genetic Profiles

“Emergence” of infectious disease agents in humans, domestic animals and wildlife during the past 20 years has been widely described. Perception of emergence derives largely from the application of improved identification methods, including refinements in molecular, serologic, and microscopy technologies that enable researchers to monitor species migration with greater sensitivity. The reality of emergence comes from shifts in genetic profiles and from influences of ecological changes often brought about by human interventions designed for economic or quality-of-life gains, and ecologic management. CDC has frequent involvement with many outbreaks caused by various infectious disease agents, some of which may be considered emerging. Notable unusual agents include filoviruses (Fig. 1) and hantaviruses (Fig. 2). More typically encountered agents include caliciviruses (Fig. 3) and influenza viruses (Fig. 4). Recently, threats of national and international bioterrorism have added to CDC's responsibilities for prompt identification of infectious agents.

Rickettsial Infections around the World, Part 1: Pathophysiology and the Spotted Fever Group

2005 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-62
Author(s):  
Jashin J. Wu ◽  
David B. Huang ◽  
Katie R. Pang ◽  
Stephen K. Tyring
Keyword(s):  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Learning Activity ◽  
Clinical Aspects ◽  
Spotted Fever Group ◽  
Infectious Agents ◽  
Important Group ◽  
Rickettsial Infections ◽  
Rickettsial Diseases

Background: The rickettsial diseases are an important group of infectious agents that have dermatological manifestations. These diseases are important to consider in endemic areas, but in certain suspicious cases, possible acts of bioterrorism should warrant prompt notification of the appropriate authorities. Objective: In this two part review article, we review these diverse diseases by examining established and up-to-date information about the pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment of the ricksettsiae. Methods: Using PubMed to search for relevant articles, we browsed over 500 articles to compose a clinically based review article. Results: Part one focuses on pathophysiology of the rickettsial diseases and the clinical aspects of the spotted fever group. Conclusions: At the completion of part one of this learning activity, participants should be able to discuss all of the clinical manifestations and treatments of the sported fever group. Participants should also be familiar with the pathophysiology of the rickettsial diseases.

scholarly journals Drug Delivery Systems on Leprosy Therapy: Moving Towards Eradication?

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1202
Author(s):  
Luíse L. Chaves ◽  
Yuri Patriota ◽  
José L. Soares-Sobrinho ◽  
Alexandre C. C. Vieira ◽  
Sofia A. Costa Lima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Targeted Delivery ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Mycobacterium Leprae ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Infectious Agents ◽  
Multidrug Therapy ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Successful Completion ◽  
Optimal Drug ◽  
The Status

Leprosy disease remains an important public health issue as it is still endemic in several countries. Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, presents tropism for cells of the reticuloendothelial and peripheral nervous system. Current multidrug therapy consists of clofazimine, dapsone and rifampicin. Despite significant improvements in leprosy treatment, in most programs, successful completion of the therapy is still sub-optimal. Drug resistance has emerged in some countries. This review discusses the status of leprosy disease worldwide, providing information regarding infectious agents, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, actual treatment and future perspectives and strategies on targets for an efficient targeted delivery therapy.

Infectious animal disease and its control

1985 ◽  
Vol 310 (1144) ◽  
pp. 259-274 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Genetic Constitution ◽  
Infectious Agents ◽  
Local Farm ◽  
Technological Opportunities ◽  
Density Population ◽  
Methods Of Control

The control of infectious diseases in the main food-producing animals is considered and the main factors involved in the epizootiology of disease are presented. The properties of infectious agents and their natural history together with factors that influence the spread and development of disease are summarized. The factors in intensive animal husbandry that affect the occurrence of infectious disease and its control are considered. These include population density, population movement, management, hygiene and genetic constitution of the host. They encourage the appearance of new diseases, changes in the character of established diseases and the development of pathogenicity in infectious agents that were previously of no importance. Intensive animal husbandry has also increased the importance of multifactorial disease, which includes diseases that require more than one infectious agent or one or more infectious agents plus other factors for their cause. The methods of control of infectious disease currently available are described and the success and difficulties of their control on a global, national and local (farm or enterprise) basis are considered. Examples of diseases of global importance where national and world programmes of control and eradication have been of varying success are described. Examples of diseases that are enzootic throughout the world and the procedures used for their control are also described. The technological opportunities for the improvement of the control of infectious disease in the future are discussed. It is considered that developments in molecular biology and immunology will provide improvements in diagnostic tools and will revolutionize the development of animal resistance to disease and the production and use of vaccines.

scholarly journals Tuberculous and tuberculoid lesions in free living small terrestrial mammals and the risk of infection to humans and animals: a review

2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 144-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Skoric ◽  
E.J. Shitaye ◽  
R. Halouzka ◽  
P. Fictum ◽  
I. Trcka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Infectious Agents ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals

The present study describes pathogenesis and morphology of tuberculous and tuberculoid lesions in small terrestrial mammals, above all, in rodents. The most serious infectious agents that cause tuberculous and tuberculoid lesions in these animals are also cited. Besides others, the diseases caused by pathogenic mycobacteria that are members of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> and <i>M. avium</i> complexes, <i>M. lepraemurium</i>, tularaemia, brucellosis and salmonellosis are included in the present study.

Balamuthia mandrillaris-Related Primary Amoebic Encephalitis in China Diagnosed by Next Generation Sequencing and a Review of the Literature

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinan Yang ◽  
Xiaobin Hu ◽  
Li Min ◽  
Xiangyu Dong ◽  
Yuanlin Guan
Keyword(s):  
Next Generation Sequencing ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Balamuthia Mandrillaris ◽  
Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis ◽  
Generation Sequencing

Abstract Background Encephalitis is caused by infection, immune mediated diseases, or primary inflammatory diseases. Of all the causative infectious pathogens, 90% are viruses or bacteria. Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE), caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris, is a rare but life-threatening disease. Diagnosis and therapy are frequently delayed due to the lack of specific clinical manifestations. Method A healthy 2 year old Chinese male patient initially presented with a nearly 2 month history of irregular fever. We present this case of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis caused by B. mandrillaris. Next generation sequencing of the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was performed to identify an infectious agent. Result The results of next generation sequencing of the CSF showed that most of the mapped reads belonged to Balamuthia mandrillaris. Conclusion Next generation sequencing (NGS) is an unbiased and rapid diagnostic tool. The NGS method can be used for the rapid identification of causative pathogens. The NGS method should be widely applied in clinical practice and help clinicians provide direction for the diagnosis of diseases, especially for rare and difficult cases.

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