Journal
PATHOGENS AND GLOBAL HEALTH
Volume 116, Issue 2, Pages 70-84Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2021.1985892
Keywords
Free-living amoebae; acanthamoeba; Balamuthia; Naegleria; keratitis; CNS infection; encephalitis; meningoencephalitis
Funding
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah
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Pathogenic free-living amoebae can cause severe central nervous system diseases, with hosts with impaired immunity being at higher risk, but they can also affect immunocompetent individuals. Recently, these deadly amoebae were detected in water supplies in the USA, raising concerns, especially with global warming potentially exacerbating the issue.
Pathogenic free-living amoebae affecting the central nervous system are known to cause granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) or primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Although hosts with impaired immunity are generally at a higher risk of severe disease, amoebae such as Naegleria fowleri and Balamuthia mandrillaris can instigate disease in otherwise immunocompetent individuals, whereas Acanthamoeba species mostly infect immunocompromised people. Acanthamoeba also cause a sight-threatening eye infection, mostly in contact lens wearers. Although infections due to pathogenic amoebae are considered rare, recently, these deadly amoebae were detected in water supplies in the USA. This is of particular concern, especially with global warming further exacerbating the problem. Herein, we describe the epidemiology, presentation, diagnosis, and management of free-living amoeba infections.
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