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Acanthamoeba spp., Naegleria fowleri and other amobae

What is it?

Acanthamoeba spp is a primary example of protozoa that are pathogenic and free-living amoebae. It is an organism that can live in soil water and air.

How does a person get it?

Humans acquire Acanthamoeba spp through water that enters the nasal passages when swimming and by inhalation. The amoeba spreads through transmission in water based fluids or from the air.

What disease does the organism cause?

Acanthamoeba spp. and other similar amobae cause the diseases Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) and Granulomatious Amoebic Encephalitis (GAE).

Who is affected by the diseases?

Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis occurs many times in people who are healthy as well as individuals who are immunodeficient.

Granulomatious Amoebic Encephalitis usually only occurs in individuals who are immunodeficient in some way.

What is the course of the disease and what are it's symptoms?

The specific disease Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis multiplies in the tissues of the central nervous system and can lead to death within one week of the start of symptoms if left untreated.

Granulomatious Amoebic Encephalitis usually only occurs in people who are immunodeficient in some way and can lead to death several weeks to a year after the appearance of symptoms. The main infection site of the organism in this disease is the lungs and brains.

How are the diseases diagnosed?

Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis is diagnosed in humans by the presence of amoebae in the spinal fluid.

Granulomatious Amoebic Encephalitis is diagnosed by biopsy of the lesion.

What are effective treatments?

Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis can be effectively treated with Amphotercin B. Sulfamethazine may also be an effective treatment for controlling the amobae.

How frequent is the disease?

Neither disease occurs very often, with only 100 cases in the 25 years the diseases have been recognized however both Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis and Granulomatious Amoebic Encephalitis usually lead to deaths. Other symptoms the disease can cause include an eye infection that can lead to blindness.

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Links for recent updates

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090721091841.htm