Invasive Amebiasis in Men Who Have Sex with Men, Australia

Abstract

Entamoeba histolytica is a pathogenic ameba that has recently been recognized as an emerging pathogen in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Asia-Pacific countries where it is not endemic, i.e., Japan, Taiwan, and Republic of Korea. We report locally acquired invasive amebiasis in Sydney, Australia, exclusively in MSM.

Pleural Empyema Secondary to Rupture of Amoebic Liver Abscess

“…Currently, amoebic infections have been reported in increased numbers of male homosexuals and immunocompromised patients (2,3). This is an evident case of pleural empyema secondary to rupture of amoebic liver abscess.…”

“…It occasionally presents as hepatopulmonary fistula, pleural empyema or cardiac tamponade when it involves the cardiopulmonary systems (i.e., invasive amoebiasis) (1). Recently, invasive amoebic infections have been reported in increased numbers of male homosexuals and immunocompromised patients (2,3). Here, we present a 27-year-old homosexual man with pleural empyema secondary to rupture of amoebic liver abscess.…”

Amoebic liver abscess presenting as left empyema thoracis

“…2 Recently, invasive amoebic infections have been reported in increased numbers in male homosexuals and immunocompromised patients. 3,4 Case Report A 20 year old male presented to us with complaints of left sided chest pain, upper abdominal pain since 1 month and high grade fever with chills and rigors, breathlessness & cough with expectoration since 10 days.…”

Amebiasis-Related Mortality among United States Residents, 1990–2007

“…7 We observed an association between amebiasis death and HIV co-infection, and the possibility of an increase in invasive disease among persons with HIV has been previously suggested. 8,9 However, whether HIV is a risk factor for invasive disease is unclear and the observed association may simply reflect the greater likelihood of exposure and infection with E. histolytica among MSM who are also at increased risk of HIV infection. We found the co-occurrence of previously recognized risk factors for E. histolytica including alcohol abuse and tuberculosis; however we lacked sufficient power to adequately assess these conditions.…”

“…5 Gender differences in amebiasis, including the lower occurrence of invasive disease in females, have been attributed to the apparent increased complementmediated inactivation of E. histolytica in females. 6 This may also contribute to reduced mortality in women.…”