PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Free-living amoebae are rare causes of morbidity and mortality in humans and animals around the globe. Because the route of exposure and clinical progression of disease caused by different species of amoebae may vary in people and animals, determining the species of amoeba present is important. We describe here a fatal infection by the free-living amoeba Balamuthia mandrillaris in a Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica). The 17-y-old patient had a rapid clinical decline after a peracute onset of severe lethargy, dull mentation, and anorexia. Autopsy did not identify a cause of death. Histology revealed inflammation associated with amoebic trophozoites in the brain, lungs, and iris of one eye. These amoebae were confirmed to be B. mandrillaris based on a PCR assay and sequencing. Although there are subtle morphologic differences between cyst stages of Acanthamoeba spp., B. mandrillaris, and Naegleria fowleri when present and identified on routine staining, other modalities, including PCR, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry, are typically utilized to confirm the pathogen involved in these cases. We review the reports of balamuthosis in animals.
摘要：
自由生活的变形虫是全球人类和动物发病和死亡的罕见原因。由于不同种类变形虫引起的疾病在人和动物中的暴露途径和临床进展可能有所不同，确定存在的变形虫的种类很重要。我们在这里描述了西伯利亚虎（Pantheratigrisaltaica）中自由生活的变形虫Balamuthiamandrillaris的致命感染。17岁的患者在严重嗜睡的急性发作后，临床迅速下降，沉闷的心理状态，和厌食症。尸检没有确定死亡原因。组织学显示炎症与大脑中的阿米巴滋养体有关，肺,一只眼睛的虹膜。基于PCR测定和测序,这些变形虫被确认为曼陀罗氏杆菌。尽管棘阿米巴属的囊肿阶段之间存在细微的形态学差异。,B.mandrillaris，和Naegleriafowleri当存在并在常规染色中鉴定时，其他方式，包括PCR,免疫荧光，电子显微镜，和免疫组织化学，通常用于确认这些病例中涉及的病原体。我们回顾了动物龟裂病的报道。
