[FREE LIVING PATHOGENIC AMOEBA BY DR

DOMANTAY] Aug. 27, 2014

Prevention and Control of Amoebiasis

Depends on integrated and community-based

efforts
o Improve environmental sanitation
o Sanitary disposal of human species
o Safe drinking water
o Safe food

Emphasize on proper use of latrines and proper

hygiene (proper handwashing)

Where potable water is not available, drinking

water should be boiled (>15min) and filtered

Fruits and veggies eaten raw should be

thoroughly washed

Avoid use of night soil for fertilizer must be

avoided

Prompt diagnosis and treatment of amebiasis

cases, especially food handlers as potential
asymptomatic carriers
*Direction of future research: Vaccines can be a costeffective and potent strategy for prevention and
eradication. Amoebic vaccine development has fewer
problems compared to other parasites:
o No intermediate host
o Parasite is extracellularly located
o Do not undergo antigenic variation
*Candidate vaccine molecules which have been
studied:
a) SREHP serine rich E. histolytica protein
stimulates humans to produce Ab
b) Adherence leptin
c) 29kDa Cysteine rich amebic antigen
______________________________________________

2 FREE-LIVING PATHOGENIC AMEBAE

I. Acanthamoeba

Acanthomeoba is a small free-living amoeba

characterized by an active trophozoite stage
and a dormant cyst stage.
The
trophozoite
exhibits
small spiny
filaments for
locomotion
known
as
acanthopodia
The cysts are double-walled. Pores or ostioles
are seen at the point of contact between the
two walls.
Acanthamoeba can be cultivated in PYGC
medium
o Proteose-peptone
o Yeast extract

o
o

Glucose
Cysteine

Pathology of Infection
1. Acanthamoeba is the causative agent of
Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis (GAE); may
occur in
o Chronically ill & debilitated individuals
o Impaired immune defense mechanisms
o Immunosuppressive therapy (steroids)
o Patients with AIDS

Signs and symptoms are related directly to:

o Destructive encephalopathy
o Meningeal irritation
2. Acanthamoeba also causes
Amoebic Keratitis. It was
originally associated with the
use of soft contact lenses, but
there are other predisposing
conditions
such
as
in
immunocompromised patients.

Signs & symptoms of Acanthamoeba keratitis

include:
o Corneal ulceration
o Corneal infiltration & clouding
o Iritis & scleritis
o Severe pain

[FREE LIVING PATHOGENIC AMOEBA BY DR

DOMANTAY] Aug. 27, 2014
Hypopyon (accumulation of pus in the
eye)
o Loss of vision
This condition is confused with fungal or
herpetic keratitis.
Sporadic cases have occurred in :
o Europe
o US
o Japan
o Korea
o South America
o Germany
o Philippines
o

II. Naegleria
Naegleria
is
a
free-living
ameboflagellate, so-called because it
can exist as an amoeba (trophozoite
form) & as a flagellate (swimming form)
and a cyst.
Life Cycle
1. Trophozoite- uses pseudopod for
locomotion
2. Flagellate
3. Cyst- infective stage
1. Naegleria gruberi is the most commonly
studied non-pathogenic species.
2. Naegleria fowleri, pathogenic species
causes fatal meningoencephalitis in humans
Disease ranges from gastritis to a fatal
Primary
Amebic
Meningoencephalitis (PAM)
Mode of transmission: oral & intranasal
routes

Infection can be acquired while swimming

in contaminated pools, lakes, & rivers.
Prevention
o
chlorination of swimming pools

Note taker:

Stephanie Abnasan