Sarah Y Edminster, Ryan W Rebbe, Christopher Khatchadourian, Kyle M Hurth, Anna J Mathew, Julie Huss-Bawab, Mark S Shiroishi, Devin Clark, Andrew P Norgan, Susan M Butler-Wu, Annie Hiniker
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Balamuthia mandrillaris is a rare, free-living amoeba (FLA) that causes granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, a disease with close to 90% mortality. The geographical ranges of many FLA are expanding, potentially increasing human exposure to B. mandrillaris. Here, we report a case of a 58-year-old woman with progressive neurological symptoms, ultimately diagnosed postmortem with B. mandrillaris encephalitis through plasma metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) despite negative results on both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) mNGS and CSF PCR testing. Histologic analysis and real-time PCR (qPCR) studies on postmortem brain tissue confirmed B. mandrillaris infection with significant vascular clustering of trophozoites. Retrospective analysis of CSF mNGS data demonstrated subthreshold reads for B. mandrillaris, emphasizing the challenges of interpreting low-level pathogen signals. A systematic review of 159 published B. mandrillaris cases revealed only two reports of B. mandrillaris diagnosed using plasma mNGS, both of which also had diagnostic CSF studies. This case demonstrates the diagnostic challenges of B. mandrillaris infections, highlights its vascular tropism, and suggests that plasma mNGS may warrant evaluation as a diagnostic tool for B. mandrillaris.
期刊介绍:
"Acta Neuropathologica Communications (ANC)" is a peer-reviewed journal that specializes in the rapid publication of research articles focused on the mechanisms underlying neurological diseases. The journal emphasizes the use of molecular, cellular, and morphological techniques applied to experimental or human tissues to investigate the pathogenesis of neurological disorders.
ANC is committed to a fast-track publication process, aiming to publish accepted manuscripts within two months of submission. This expedited timeline is designed to ensure that the latest findings in neuroscience and pathology are disseminated quickly to the scientific community, fostering rapid advancements in the field of neurology and neuroscience. The journal's focus on cutting-edge research and its swift publication schedule make it a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and other professionals interested in the study and treatment of neurological conditions.