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Acanthamoeba |
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Acanthamoeba /Acan·tha·moe·ba/ (ah-kan″thah-me´bah) a genus of free-living ameboid protozoa (order Amoebida) found usually in fresh water or moist soil. Certain species, such as A. astronyxis, A. castellanii, A. culbertsoni, A. hatchetti, A. polyphaga, and A. rhisodes, may occur as human pathogens.
Acanthamoeba [əkan′thəmē′bə] a genus of free-living ameboid protozoa typically found in moist soil and water. The organisms may enter the body through a break in the skin, causing a localized infection, or even though the nose, causing systemic infections of the lung, genitourinary system, brain, and central nervous system. Disseminated cutaneous lesions caused by this organism are seen particularly in patients with AIDS. Although an infection may be fatal, cases are more commonly chronic. Acanthamoeba small amebae, found in soil and water; they have been found in tissue cultures and in sporadic cases of pneumonia, general systemic infection and can produce meningoencephalitis after experimental administration. Possibly associated with granulomatous encephalitis in greyhounds. Includes A. castellani, A. culbertsoni. Acanthamoeba A genus of free-living pathogenic amoebas Sources tap water, dust, soil, sewage, air conditioning units. See Acanthamebiasis. Cf Leptomyxid, Naegleria. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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| ? Mentioned in | ? References in periodicals archive | ||
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| We report a fatal case of encephalitis caused by Acanthamoeba in a
24-year-old woman from India with systemic lupus erythematosus.
To treat the Acanthamoeba infection, the patient was started on oral
itraconazole and intravenous metronidazole; IV pentamidine was added 2
days later. Now, researchers at the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) in Atlanta have released the results of a study that
sought to identify risk factors linking soft lens wear with a rare
amoebic infection of the cornea, Acanthamoeba keratitis. |
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