Infections caused by pathogenic free-living amebas (Balamuthia mandrillaris and Acanthamoeba sp.) in horses

J Vet Diagn Invest. 2007 May;19(3):317-22. doi: 10.1177/104063870701900318.

Abstract

This article describes amebic infections in 4 horses: granulomatous amebic encephalitis caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris and Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and systemic infections caused by Acanthamoeba sp. The former infection occurred in 1 of 4 horses spontaneously without any underlying conditions; the latter amebic infection was perhaps "opportunistic" considering the visceral involvement by this protozoan in association with Aspergillus sp. and/or Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas sp. The clinicopathologic findings and demonstration of the amebic organisms using immunohistochemical techniques, culture, polymerase chain reactions, and electron microscopy are presented.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acanthamoeba / genetics
  • Acanthamoeba / isolation & purification*
  • Amebiasis / parasitology
  • Amebiasis / veterinary*
  • Animals
  • Brain Diseases / parasitology
  • Brain Diseases / veterinary*
  • DNA, Protozoan / chemistry
  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology*
  • Horses
  • Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
  • Lung Diseases, Parasitic / parasitology
  • Lung Diseases, Parasitic / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary

Substances

  • DNA, Protozoan