Recovery of Soil Amebas from the Nasal Passages of Children during the Dusty Harmattan Period in Zaria

Lawande, R. V.; Abraham, Soman N.; John, Isaac; Egler, L J

doi:10.1093/ajcp/71.2.201

Cited by 64 publications

(26 citation statements)

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“…Previous isolation of Acanthamoeba in nasal washings, pharyngeal swabs, and broncheoalveolar lavage support this view (1,3,15,28). Thus, while serious ocular disease and life-threatening CNS infections are rare, mucosal infection may contribute significantly to the large number of undiagnosed sinus infections and pulmonary illnesses suffered each year.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Skin infections have also been documented and may serve as the nidus for a hematogenous spread to the CNS (17). Likewise, Acanthamoeba has been found within alveoli of compromised patients with pneumonitis (18) and has been recovered from nasal and pharyngeal swabs from immunocompetent, asymptomatic individuals (1,3,15,28); the latter suggests that transient respiratory infections may occur.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Standardized Method of Measuring Acanthamoeba Antibodies in Sera from Healthy Human Subjects

Chappell

Wright

Coletta

et al. 2001

Clin Diagn Lab Immunol

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Acanthamoeba species can cause serious, debilitating, and sometimes life-threatening infections. Three groups have been identified using morphological and immunological comparisons. Previous serological studies have utilized a variety of antigen preparations and assay methods and reported disparate (3 to 100%) results. This study was designed to (i) optimize an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting serum antibodies to each of the Acanthamoeba serogroups and (ii) test 55 healthy individuals for specific immunoglobulin G reactivity. The highest signal-to-background ratio was found when 3,000 fixed, intact trophozoites per well were used with a 1:10 serum dilution. Sera yielding optical densities of <0.25 against all three Acanthamoeba serogroups were used to define the cutoff for positive results. The highest background reactivity with these sera was seen with Acanthamoeba polyphaga (serogroup 2), followed by Acanthamoeba culbertsoni (serogroup 3) and Acanthamoeba astronyxis (serogroup 1). Of 55 subjects tested, the highest number of positive results was seen with A. polyphaga (81.8%), followed by A. astronyxis (52.8%) and A. culbertsoni (40%). Seven serum samples (12.7%) were negative for all three Acanthamoeba serogroups, 16 (29.1%) were positive for one serogroup only, 16 were positive for two serogroups, and 16 reacted to all three serogroups. Further analysis showed no significant associations between serogroup reactivity and age or gender. However, some ethnic differences were noted, especially with A. polyphaga antigens. In that case, serum samples from Hispanic subjects were 14.5 times less likely to be positive (P ‫؍‬ 0.0025) and had lower mean absorbance values (P ‫؍‬ 0.047) than those from Caucasian subjects. Overall, these data suggest that Acanthamoeba colonization or infection is more common than previously thought. Mild or asymptomatic infections may contribute to the observed serum reactivities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Standardized Method of Measuring Acanthamoeba Antibodies in Sera from Healthy Human Subjects

Chappell

Wright

Coletta

et al. 2001

Clin Diagn Lab Immunol

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“…The virulent Acanthamoeba organisms may enter the respiratory tract via inhaled air, aerosols, and dust containing cysts or trophozoites. 5 We report a unique case of Aspergillus and Acanthamoeba coinfection of CNS in an immunocompetent patient.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Rare Case of Meningoencephalitis Due to Aspergillus and Acanthamoeba Coinfection

2015

Human Parasitic Diseases

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Aspergillus and Acanthamoeba cause central nervous system (CNS) infection mostly in immunocompromised hosts, disseminating via the hematogenous route from a primary focus in the respiratory tract. We are presenting a case of an immunocompetent patient diagnosed with Aspergillus and Acanthamoeba coinfection of the CNS, a rare finding. A positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) galactomannan antigen test confirmed the presence of Aspergillus, and direct visualization in CSF sample and culture confirmed the presence of Acanthamoeba.

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“…In the home, they can be recovered from humidifiers, aquariums, biofilms in sink drains and water faucets, and soil in potted plants. Amebae have been isolated from the nasal mucosae of various groups of healthy individuals, including military recruits, students, and children, suggesting that while colonization and subclincal infections are relatively common, invasive disease is, fortunately, a rarity (3,12,14).…”

Section: Case Reportmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inability To Make a Premortem Diagnosis of Acanthamoeba Species Infection in a Patient with Fatal Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis

Bloch

Schuster

2005

J Clin Microbiol

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Granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE), an infection of immunocompromised hosts, is almost uniformly fatal. A case of GAE in a patient who failed to mount a serologic response to Acanthamoeba polyphaga is presented. Although Acanthamoeba polyphaga that is sensitive to multiple antimicrobials grew from brain tissue, an inability to make a premortem diagnosis precluded therapy. CASE REPORTA 70-year-old female presented for medical attention with lethargy and seizures. Symptoms began 36 days earlier when she was hospitalized with syncope. An evaluation at that time included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), revealing a focal area of edema in the right temporal lobe consistent with an acute infarction, and she was discharged to a rehabilitation facility with a diagnosis of cerebrovascular accident. She was readmitted with worsening ataxia, lethargy, and generalized seizures. Her past medical history included chronic neutropenia secondary to myelodysplastic syndrome, hypogammaglobulinemia treated with monthly intravenous gamma globulin, asplenia, steroid-dependent discoid lupus (prednisone, 20 mg twice a day), and diabetes mellitus.On exam, the patient was afebrile and hemodynamically stable. An ocular exam did not reveal papilledema. Her neck was supple. She was oriented only to person. A neurological examination was otherwise nonfocal. Laboratory studies included a platelet count of 355 ϫ 10 9 /liter, a hematocrit of 32.8%, and a white blood cell count of 2.8 ϫ 10 9 /liter, which was unchanged from her baseline leukopenia. A lumbar puncture (Table 1) was significant for lymphocytic pleocytosis and hypoglycorrhacia. A repeat MRI revealed intense contrast enhancement of the right posterior temporal lobe, with two new contrast-enhancing areas in the medial temporal lobe. A stereotactic biopsy of the right temporal lobe performed on day 42 was nondiagnostic, with results showing a reactive gliosis with lymphocytic infiltrate in the leptomeninges, but no amebae or granulomas, and negative bacterial, fungal, and mycobacterial cultures.The patient's hospital course was significant for progressive obtundation, requiring intubation for airway protection. The results of repeat lumbar punctures are provided in Table 1. Serial MRI revealed persistent abnormal signal intensity in the temporal lobes, with new areas of uptake in the right basal ganglia, pons, and left occiput. Extensive diagnostic evaluation was unrevealing except for a stable elevation in titers of antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae (1.425 in the acute phase and 1.645 in the convalescent phase) and Ehrlichia chaffeensis (1:128 in the acute phase and 1:128 in the convalescent phase) and evidence of prior Epstein-Barr virus infection (viral capsid antigen immunoglobulin G titer of Ͼ10, viral capsid antigen immunoglobulin M titer of Ͻ10, and EBNA titer of Ͼ10). Despite empirical treatment with acyclovir, decadron, and plasmaphoresis, the patient died 100 days after her initial presentation.Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of the patient's brain obtained at ...

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Recovery of Soil Amebas from the Nasal Passages of Children during the Dusty Harmattan Period in Zaria

Cited by 64 publications

References 0 publications

Standardized Method of Measuring Acanthamoeba Antibodies in Sera from Healthy Human Subjects

Standardized Method of Measuring Acanthamoeba Antibodies in Sera from Healthy Human Subjects

Rare Case of Meningoencephalitis Due to Aspergillus and Acanthamoeba Coinfection

Inability To Make a Premortem Diagnosis of Acanthamoeba Species Infection in a Patient with Fatal Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis

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