期刊名称：Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine
印刷版ISSN：1232-1966
电子版ISSN：1898-2263
出版年度：2017
卷号：24
期号：2
页码：254-260
DOI：10.5604/12321966.1233568
出版社：Institute of Agricultural Medicine in Lublin
摘要：Introduction. Among free-living amoebae that are widely distributed in nature only four genera/species are known as agentsof human infections: Acanthamoeba spp., Naegleriafowleri, Balamuthia mandrillaris and Sappiniapedata. These amoebae arenot well adapted to parasitism, and could exist in the human environment without the need for a host. Infections due tothese amoebae, despite low morbidity, are characterized by relatively high mortality rate and pose serious clinical problems.Objectve. This review study presents and summarizes current knowledge about infections due to pathogenic andopportunistic free-living amoebae focused on epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment based onglobal literature.State of knowledge. All four genera have been recognized as etiologic factors of fatal central nervous system infectionsand other serious diseases in humans. N. fowleri causes an acute fulminating meningoencephalitis in children and youngadults. Acanthamoeba spp. and B.mandrillaris are opportunistic pathogens causing granulomatous amoebic encephalitisand disseminated or localized infections which could affect the skin, sinuses, lungs, adrenals and/or bones. Acanthamoebaspp. is also the main agent of acute eye infection – Acanthamoeba keratitis, mostly in contact lens wearers. However, thereis only one recognized case of encephalitis caused by S. pedata.Conclusions. Amoebic diseases are difficult to diagnose which leads to delayed treatment, and result in a high mortalityrate. Considering those issues, there is an urgent need to draw more attention to this type of diseases.
