Page 25 - Medical Parasitology_ A Textbook ( PDFDrive )
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Balamuthia mandrillaris 17
2. Diagnosis of amoebic keratitis
Demonstration of the cyst in corneal scrapings by wet mount, histology or culture.
Treatment
No effective treatment is available for GAE. In acanthamoeba keratitis, therapy
involves topical application of biguanide or chlorhexidine. When vision is threat-
ened, keratoplasty can be done. Multidrug combinations which include pentami-
dine, sulfadiazine, rifampicin and fluconazole are being used with limited success.
Prevention and Control
1. Tap water should not be used to rinse contact lenses
Balamuthia mandrillaris
Balamuthia mandrillaris is a newly identified FLA species reported to cause
GAE. It is an emerging opportunistic protozoan pathogen.
Distribution
Balamuthia mandrillaris is found in the soil and was first discovered in 1986 in the
brain of a baboon that died in the San Diego Wild Animal Park.
Habitat
In human, it is found in CNS.
Morphology
It occurs in 2 forms:
1. Trophozoite
2. Cyst
Trophozoite measures 12–60 μm, irregular in shape and actively motile by broad
pseudopodia. Cyst is spherical, measuring 6–20 μm. Under light microscopy, it
appears to have an outer irregular wall and an inner smooth wall. Infection to human
is transmitted through respiratory tract, skin lesions or eyes.
