Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis pathophysiology
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis is a central nervous system disease caused by certain species of amoeba, especially Balamuthia mandrillaris.
Pathophysiology
Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis is most commonly caused by Acanthamoeba castellanii, A. culbertsoni, A. polyphaga or Balamuthia mandrillaris.[1] It is rarely due to Entamoeba histolytica.
E. histolytica rarely infects the central nervous system and when it does, it tends to cause an abscess with a fulminant clinical course culminating in the patient's death within 12-72 hours (untreated). E. histolytica infection of the brain also tends to occur in patients with a previous diagnosis of E. histolytica infection of the intestines, the liver or the lungs.
Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis is also rarely due to Naegleria fowleri. N. fowleri generally causes acute encephalitis in immunocompetent hosts who go swimming underwater or diving outdoors in fresh water in warm weather.
Chronically ill, debilitated, immunosuppressed or immunodeficient patients tend not to engage in such activities.
References
- ↑ Martinez AJ, Visvesvara GS, Chandler FW. Free-living amebic infections. Chapter 132 in Pathology of Infectious Diseases, 1997, Connor DH, Chandler FW, Manz HJ, Schwartz DA, Lack EE, eds., Stamford, Appleton & Lange, pp 1163-1176.