Entamoeba histolytica encephalitis diagnosed by PCR of cerebrospinal fluid.
Extra-intestinal amebiasis is secondary to invasive intestinal infections and usually results in an amebic liver abscess. Other organs, including lungs, brain, skin, spleen and kidneys, may be involved. Diagnosis of the cerebral infection is of the utmost importance and is most often made by detection of the organism at the time of brain biopsy or at autopsy. We report the first case of Entamoeba histolytica encephalitis diagnosed by PCR of the cerebrospinal fluid. The patient was treated successfully with metronidazole. PCR is an increasingly useful tool for the diagnosis of central nervous system infection and can provide rapid diagnosis.
Solaymani-Mohammadi
Shahram
S
Division of Intestinal and Genital Protozoal Diseases, Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 14155, Tehran 6446, Iran.
Lam
Maggie M
MM
Zunt
Joseph R
JR
Petri
William A
WA
D000328:Adult; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D008795:Metronidazole