scholarly journals Rapidly Progressive Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis in a Diabetic Individual

Cureus ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anish C Paudel ◽  
Nitin Patel ◽  
Jonathan Quang ◽  
Courtney Casella ◽  
Adam Sigal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis ◽  
Diabetic Individual

Comparative analyses of different genetic markers for the detection of Acanthamoeba spp. isolates

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Derda ◽  
Agnieszka Wojtkowiak-Giera ◽  
Edward Hadaś
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Markers ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Correct Diagnosis ◽  
Specific Marker ◽  
Pcr Assay ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Detection And Identification ◽  
Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis ◽  
Free Living Amoeba ◽  
Treatment Of Infection

AbstractAcanthamoeba are widespread free-living amoebae which may cause granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE), keratitis, skin ulcerations and disseminated tissue infection. An important diagnostic and prognostic factor for the treatment of infection is a quick and correct diagnosis of amoebae strains. The aim of our study was to develop a rapid method for detection and identification of pathogenic Acanthamoeba spp. strains from diagnostic material collected from water. In this study we analysed five amplification-based genetic markers (Aca 16S, Ac6/210, GP, JDP, Nelson) used for identification of pathogenic Acanthamoeba spp. strains isolated in water sources in Poland, Iceland and Sweden. Our results demonstrated the presence of pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains in tap water. PCR assay appeared to be a more rapid and sensitive method to detect the presence of amoebae than the limited conventional techniques. Based on our observations, we can confirm that the use of four out of five genetic markers (Aca 16S, Ac 6/210, JDP, GP, Nelson) may be helpful in identification of Acanthamoeba spp. strains, but only one Aca 16S primer pair is a highly specific marker that distinguishes between pathogenic strains of Acanthamoeba and other free-living amoeba families.

scholarly journals Increasing Importance of Balamuthia mandrillaris

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Matin ◽  
Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui ◽  
Samantha Jayasekera ◽  
Naveed Ahmed Khan
Keyword(s):  
Case Fatality Rate ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Fatality Rate ◽  
Balamuthia Mandrillaris ◽  
Preventative Measures ◽  
Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis ◽  
The Central Nervous System

SUMMARY Balamuthia mandrillaris is an emerging protozoan parasite, an agent of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis involving the central nervous system, with a case fatality rate of >98%. This review presents our current understanding of Balamuthia infections, their pathogenesis and pathophysiology, and molecular mechanisms associated with the disease, as well as virulence traits of Balamuthia that may be potential targets for therapeutic interventions and/or for the development of preventative measures.

scholarly journals Isolation and molecular identification of Acanthamoeba spp. from hot springs in Mazandaran province, northern Iran

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 807-813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samira Dodangeh ◽  
Elham Kialashaki ◽  
Ahmad Daryani ◽  
Mehdi Sharif ◽  
Shahabeddin Sarvi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hot Springs ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Mazandaran Province ◽  
Northern Iran ◽  
Pathogenic Potential ◽  
Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis ◽  
Amoebic Keratitis ◽  
Hot Tubs

Abstract Acanthamoeba is a free-living protozoan that can be found in natural and artificial environments such as hot tubs, surface water and springs and can cause severe diseases including amoebic keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. The present study was conducted owing to the lack of research regarding genotypes of Acanthamoeba in hot springs of Mazandaran province in northern Iran. Twenty-four water samples were collected from all hot springs in Mazandaran province. After filtration through nitrocellulose membrane, samples were cultured on non-nutrient agar medium enriched with TYIS-33. The cultures were microscopically examined for the presence of Acanthamoeba. Positive cultures were analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genotypes were determined by targeting the 18 S rRNA gene. The pathogenic potential of all positive isolates was identified using thermotolerance and osmotolerance tests. Eleven (47.8%) samples were positive for Acanthamoeba. Based on sequencing analysis, 100% of isolates belonged to the T4 genotype. Thermo- and osmo-tolerance tests showed that four (36.3%) Acanthamoeba strains were highly pathogenic. According to our research, the occurrence of Acanthamoeba in recreational hot springs could be a hazard for high risk persons. Posting warning signs and regular monitoring of these waters by health planners may therefore be useful for decreasing Acanthamoeba spp. infections.

Diagnostic conundrums: Severe hypoglycaemia in a non-diabetic individual

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Westall ◽  
Heather Sullivan ◽  
Abidullah Khan ◽  
Ahtisham AliKhan ◽  
Sid McNulty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Hypoglycaemia ◽  
Diabetic Individual

scholarly journals Socio-cultural aspects of type 1 diabetes in Egypt: Where are we and where do we need to be?

2013 ◽  
Vol 01 (02) ◽  
pp. 063-065
Author(s):  
Hanan Aly
Keyword(s):  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Her Family ◽  
Positive Communication ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
The Family ◽  
Diabetic Individual

AbstractSocio-cultural factors play a pivotal role in the control of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents, especially in developing countries like Egypt. The financial burden of this chronic illness, together with the modulations needed in lifestyle affect the family and school dynamics, adding further stress on the diabetic individual and his/her family. The key to improved outcome (not only in terms of glycemic control but also quality of life) has two arms. The first one is having a diabetes team with a psychologist skilled in this area for clear and positive communication with both the family and school from the time of diagnosis. The second one is the implementation of government laws to enforce the rights of diabetic children and adolescents.

scholarly journals Genotyping of Acantamoeba spp. from rhisophere in Hungary

2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-175
Author(s):  
Erika Orosz ◽  
Katalin Posta
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
18S Rrna Gene ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Quantitative Real Time Pcr ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis ◽  
Related Genotype ◽  
Biological Methods

The protista Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba existing in various environments. A number of species among protista are recognized as human pathogens, potentially causing Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE), and chronic granulomatous lesions. In this study, 10 rhizosphere samples were collected from maize and alfalfa plants in experimental station at Institute of Genetics, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Szent István University. We detected Acanthamoeba based on the quantitative real-time PCR assay and sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene. All studied molecular biological methods are suitable for the detection of Acanthamoeba infection in humans. The quantitative real-time PCR-based methods are more sensitive, simple, and easy to perform; moreover, these are opening avenue to detect the effect of number of parasites on human disease. Acanthamoeba species were detected in five (5/10; 50%) samples. All Acanthamoeba strains belonged to T4 genotype, the main AK-related genotype worldwide. Our result confirmed Acanthamoeba strains in rhizosphere that should be considered as a potential health risk associated with human activities in the environment.

Balamuthia mandrillaris-Related Primary Amoebic Encephalitis in China Diagnosed by Next Generation Sequencing and a Review of the Literature

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinan Yang ◽  
Xiaobin Hu ◽  
Li Min ◽  
Xiangyu Dong ◽  
Yuanlin Guan
Keyword(s):  
Next Generation Sequencing ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Balamuthia Mandrillaris ◽  
Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis ◽  
Generation Sequencing

Abstract Background Encephalitis is caused by infection, immune mediated diseases, or primary inflammatory diseases. Of all the causative infectious pathogens, 90% are viruses or bacteria. Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE), caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris, is a rare but life-threatening disease. Diagnosis and therapy are frequently delayed due to the lack of specific clinical manifestations. Method A healthy 2 year old Chinese male patient initially presented with a nearly 2 month history of irregular fever. We present this case of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis caused by B. mandrillaris. Next generation sequencing of the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was performed to identify an infectious agent. Result The results of next generation sequencing of the CSF showed that most of the mapped reads belonged to Balamuthia mandrillaris. Conclusion Next generation sequencing (NGS) is an unbiased and rapid diagnostic tool. The NGS method can be used for the rapid identification of causative pathogens. The NGS method should be widely applied in clinical practice and help clinicians provide direction for the diagnosis of diseases, especially for rare and difficult cases.

scholarly journals Isoniazid Conjugated Magnetic Nanoparticles Loaded with Amphotericin B as a Potent Antiamoebic Agent against Acanthamoeba castellanii

Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 276
Author(s):  
Kawish Iqbal ◽  
Sumayah Abdelnasir Osman Abdalla ◽  
Ayaz Anwar ◽  
Kanwal Muhammad Iqbal ◽  
Muhammad Raza Shah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Nanoparticles ◽  
Amphotericin B ◽  
Central Nervous System Infection ◽  
Acanthamoeba Castellanii ◽  
Acanthamoeba Keratitis ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis ◽  
Nano Drug Delivery ◽  
Free Living Amoeba ◽  
Acanthamoeba Species

The pathogenic free-living amoeba, Acanthamoeba castellanii, is responsible for a rare but deadly central nervous system infection, granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and a blinding eye disease called Acanthamoeba keratitis. Currently, a combination of biguanides, amidine, azoles and antibiotics are used to manage these infections; however, the host cell cytotoxicity of these drugs remains a challenge. Furthermore, Acanthamoeba species are capable of transforming to the cyst form to resist chemotherapy. Herein, we have developed a nano drug delivery system based on iron oxide nanoparticles conjugated with isoniazid, which were further loaded with amphotericin B (ISO-NPs-AMP) to cause potent antiamoebic effects against Acanthamoeba castellanii. The IC50 of isoniazid conjugated with magnetic nanoparticles and loaded with amphotericin B was found to be 45 μg/mL against Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites and 50 μg/mL against cysts. The results obtained in this study have promising implications in drug discovery as these nanomaterials exhibited high trophicidal and cysticidal effects, as well as limited cytotoxicity against rat and human cells.

scholarly journals Encystment Induces Down-Regulation of an Acetyltransferase-Like Gene in Acanthamoeba castellanii

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Rolland ◽  
Luce Mengue ◽  
Cyril Noël ◽  
Stéphanie Crapart ◽  
Anne Mercier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bioinformatics Analysis ◽  
Acanthamoeba Castellanii ◽  
Acanthamoeba Keratitis ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Adverse Conditions ◽  
Genetic Modifications ◽  
Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis ◽  
Free Living Amoeba ◽  
Causative Agents

Acanthamoeba castellanii is a ubiquitous free-living amoeba. Pathogenic strains are causative agents of Acanthamoeba keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. In response to adverse conditions, A. castellanii differentiate into cysts, which are metabolically inactive and resistant cells. This process, also named encystment, involves biochemical and genetic modifications that remain largely unknown. This study characterizes the role of the ACA1_384820 Acanthamoeba gene during encystment. This gene encodes a putative N-acetyltransferase, belonging to the Gcn5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) family. We showed that expression of the ACA1_384820 gene was down-regulated as early as two hours after induction of encystment in A. castellanii. Interestingly, overexpression of the ACA1_384820 gene affects formation of cysts. Unexpectedly, the search of homologs of ACA1_384820 in the Eukaryota gene datasets failed, except for some species in the Acanthamoeba genus. Bioinformatics analysis suggested a possible lateral acquisition of this gene from prokaryotic cells. This study enabled us to describe a new Acanthamoeba gene that is down-regulated during encystment.

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