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Post-mortem culture of Balamuthia mandrillaris from the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of a case of granulomatous amoebic meningoencephalitis, using human brain microvascular endothelial cells
- Source :
- Journal of Medical Microbiology. 53:1007-1012
- Publication Year :
- 2004
- Publisher :
- Microbiology Society, 2004.
-
Abstract
- The first isolation in the UK of Balamuthia mandrillaris amoebae from a fatal case of granulomatous amoebic meningoencephalitis is reported. Using primary cultures of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs), amoebae were isolated from the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The cultures showed a cytopathic effect at 20–28 days, but morphologically identifiable B. mandrillaris amoebae were seen in cleared plaques in subcultures at 45 days. The identification of the organism was later confirmed using PCR on Chelex-treated extracts. Serum taken while the patient was still alive reacted strongly with slide antigen prepared from cultures of the post-mortem isolate, and also with those from a baboon B. mandrillaris strain at 1 : 10 000 in indirect immunofluorescence, but with Acanthamoeba castellanii (Neff) at 1 : 160, supporting B. mandrillaris to be the causative agent. If the presence of amoebae in the post-mortem CSF reflects the condition in life, PCR studies on CSF and on biopsies of cutaneous lesions may also be a valuable tool. The role of HBMECs in understanding the interactions of B. mandrillaris with the blood–brain barrier is discussed.
- Subjects :
- Microbiology (medical)
Pathology
medicine.medical_specialty
Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections
Balamuthia
bcs
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Microbiology
Balamuthia mandrillaris
Cerebrospinal fluid
Antigen
medicine
Animals
Humans
Amoeba
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Cytopathic effect
Granuloma
biology
Brain
Endothelial Cells
Meningoencephalitis
Amebiasis
General Medicine
Human brain
medicine.disease
biology.organism_classification
medicine.anatomical_structure
Blood-Brain Barrier
Acanthamoeba castellanii
Papio
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14735644 and 00222615
- Volume :
- 53
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Medical Microbiology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....5a09ec3c3c5c9f29a95cc683dd98ea40