title: Brain-Eating Amoebae: Predilection Sites in the Brain and Disease Outcome.
abstract: Acanthamoebaspp. andBalamuthia mandrillarisare causative agents of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE), whileNaegleria fowlericauses primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). PAM is an acute infection that lasts a few days, while GAE is a chronic to subacute infection that can last up to several months. Here, we present a literature review of 86 case reports from 1968 to 2016, in order to explore the affinity of these amoebae for particular sites of the brain, diagnostic modalities, treatment options, and disease outcomes in a comparative manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Timothy Yu Yee
authors.initials: TYY
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia naveed5438@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Naveed Ahmed
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ruqaiyyah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
mesh_terms: D000562:Amebiasis / Q000473:pathology*; D059611:Balamuthia mandrillaris / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016848:Naegleria fowleri / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: brain; central nervous system infections; free-living amoebae; meningoencephalitis