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Infections Caused by Pathogenic Free-living Amebas (Balamuthia Mandrillaris and Acanthamoeba Sp.) In Horses

Correspondence: ¹Corresponding Author: Hailu Kinde, CAHFS San Bernardino Branch, 105 West Central Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92408, e-mail: hkinde{at}ucdavis.edu

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.

Key Words: Acanthamoeba culbertsoni • Balamuthia mandrillaris • granulomatous amebic encephalitis