title: [Human pathology caused by free-living amoebae].
abstract: Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba spp. and Balamuthia mandrillaris are free-living amoebae that occasionally may induce pathology in human beings. CNS disease due to N. fowleri, called "primary" amoebic meningoencephalitis, is acquired after exposure to polluted waters in swimming pools, rivers, and lakes. The clinical course is acute, often fulminant and characterized pathologically by necrotizing hemorrhagic meningoencephalitis, involving mainly the base of the brain, brainstem and cerebellum. In contrast, some Acanthamoeba spp. and B. mandrillaris cause opportunistic, chronic "granulomatous" encephalitis in subjects pathologically or iatrogenically immunocompromised. There are, most likely, foci of protozoa in lung and skin reaching the CNS by hematogenous route. Only Acanthamoeba spp. can also produce severe, subacute keratitis, mainly today in contact lens wearers.
authors.affiliation: Laboratori di Ricerca di Area Infettivologica, Università degli Studi, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scaglia
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D000563:Amebicides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000469:parasitology; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D015822:Eye Infections, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D006099:Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D051379:Mice; D016848:Naegleria fowleri / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014867:Water / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000563:Amebicides; D014867:Water
vernacular_title: Patologia umana da amebe a vita libera.