2. Academic Validation
  3. Acanthamoeba and its pathogenic role in granulomatous amebic encephalitis

Acanthamoeba and its pathogenic role in granulomatous amebic encephalitis

  • Exp Parasitol. 2020 Jan;208:107788. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2019.107788.
Sonali K Kalra 1,  Palvi Sharma 2,  Kirti Shyam 2,  Nidhi Tejan 3,  Ujjala Ghoshal 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Bajhol, Distt. Solan, 173229, HP, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 2 Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Bajhol, Distt. Solan, 173229, HP, India.
  • 3 Department of Microbiology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareili Road, Lucknow, 226014, UP, India.
PMID: 31647916 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2019.107788
Abstract

Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba that is widely distributed in the environment. It is an opportunist protist, which is known to cause rare yet fatal Infection of the central nervous system (CNS), granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) in humans. GAE cases are increasingly been reported among immunocompromised patients, with few cases in immunocompetent hosts. Diagnosis of GAE primarily includes neuroimaging, microscopy, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture, histopathology, serology and molecular techniques. Early diagnosis is vital for proper management of infected patients. Combination therapeutic approach has been tried in various GAE cases reported worldwide. We tried to present a comprehensive review, which summarizes on the epidemiology of GAE caused by Acanthamoeba along with the associated clinical symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of GAE among infected patients.

Keywords

Acanthamoeba; Amebic encephalitis; Central nervous system; Diagnosis; Treatment.

Figures