Amebic meningoencephalitis caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris.

摘要: Free-living amebae etiologically associated with central nervous system (CNS) infection in children have included Acanthamoeba, Naegleria, and recently, leptomyxid ameba. Two previously healthy are reported CNS caused by ameba, recently classified as Balamuthia mandrillaris. One child, a 27-month-old boy, had right hemiparesis aphasia, the other, 13-year-old girl, headache, hemiparesis, diplopia, left facial weakness. Cerebrospinal fluid studies of both revealed mononuclear pleocytosis mildly elevated protein. The younger child developed seizures progressive cerebrovascular occlusions; hydrocephalus coma progressing to death 16 days after onset symptoms. at autopsy necrotizing meningoencephalitis, internal carotid arteritis, amebic trophozoites cysts brain. Perivascular were difficult distinguish morphologically from macrophages older who no cyst forms. Indirect immunofluorescence test B. mandrillaris both. This formerly considered an innocuous soil organism, should be differential diagnosis or atypical childhood stroke.