January 2005

Diagnosis, Diagnostics, Immunodiagnosis & Immunodiagnostics:

10882.   el-Hamshary EM, el-Shewy KA, Hegazy MM, Zakaria H. Diagnostic potentials of copro-antigen detection based ELISA, compared to microscopy in intestinal amoebiasis. J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2004 Aug;34(2):601-10.

Pathogenesis:

10883.   Abd-Alla MD, Jackson TF, Soong GC, Mazanec M, Ravdin JI. Identification of the Entamoeba histolytica galactose-inhibitable lectin epitopes recognized by human immunoglobulin A antibodies following cure of amebic liver abscess. Infect Immun. 2004 Jul;72(7):3974-80.

11337.    Elzi L, Laifer G, Sendi P, Ledermann HP, Fluckiger U, Bassetti S. Low sensitivity of ultrasonography for the early diagnosis of amebic liver abscess. Am J Med. 2004 Oct 1;117(7):519-22.

11338     Sharma S, Pasricha G, Das D, Aggarwal RK. Acanthamoeba keratitis in non-contact lens wearers in India: DNA typing-based validation and a simple detection assay.Arch Ophthalmol. 2004 Oct;122(10):1430-4.

11339.     Furrows SJ, Moody AH, Chiodini PL. Comparison of PCR and antigen detection methods for diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica infection. J Clin Pathol. 2004 Dec;57(12):1264-6.

11340.     Jayasekera S, Sissons J, Tucker J, Rogers C, Nolder D, Warhurst D, Alsam S, White JM, Higgins EM, Khan NA. 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. J Med Microbiol. 2004 Oct;53(Pt 10):1007-12.

11341.   Kaur U, Sharma AK, Sharma M, Vohra H. Distribution of Entamoeba histolytica Gal/GalNAc lectin-specific antibody response in an endemic area.Scand J Immunol. 2004 Nov;60(5):524-8.

1.     Butler TK, Males JJ, Robinson LP, Wechsler AW, Sutton GL, Cheng J, Taylor P, McClellan K. Six-year review of Acanthamoeba keratitis in New South Wales, Australia: 1997-2002. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. 2005 Feb;33(1):41-6.

Department of Clinical Ophthalmology and Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney and Sydney Eye Hospital, Sydney.

AIM: To assess the incidence and risk factors for Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), the diagnostic interval, and the efficacy and outcome of current treatment among the population of New South Wales, Australia. METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out of all cases of AK treated at the Sydney Eye Hospital between January 1997 and December 2002. RESULTS: Twenty patients were identified with a mean follow up of 24.8 +/- 21.5 months. Acanthamoeba keratitis constitutes 4.7% of severe infective keratitis treated at Sydney Eye Hospital. The mean interval from first presentation to diagnosis was 26.6 +/- 35.1 days overall; 17.2 +/- 33.1 days for those presenting directly to our unit (69% being diagnosed within 72 h of presentation), and 44.1 +/- 34.0 days for those first presenting elsewhere. Of those with a diagnostic delay >1 month, 57% had been mistakenly diagnosed with Herpes simplex keratitis. Sixteen (80%) wore contact lenses, and eight (40%) had additional risk factors including poor lens hygiene. Complications occurred in 16 (80%), with seven (35%) requiring surgical intervention. Visual acuity improved in 18 (90%), worsened in two patients (10%), and 75% achieved 6/12 or better at last follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare infection, and contact lens wear remains the commonest association, with poor hygiene constituting significant additional risk. The visual outcome has improved with the availability of effective amoebicidal agents, but patients with a diagnostic delay and non-contact lens wearers are at increased risk of recurrent disease. A high index of clinical suspicion remains the most effective strategy in implementing early treatment, and enabling a favourable outcome.

11943. Hung CC, Deng HY, Hsiao WH, Hsieh SM, Hsiao CF, Chen MY, Chang SC, Su KE. Invasive amebiasis as an emerging parasitic disease in patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in Taiwan. Arch Intern Med. 2005 Feb 28;165(4):409-15.

11944. Tavares P, Rigothier MC, Khun H, Roux P, Huerre M, Guillen N. Roles of cell adhesion and cytoskeleton activity in Entamoeba histolytica pathogenesis: a delicate balance. Infect Immun. 2005 Mar;73(3):1771-8.

Therapy:

11945. Butler TK, Males JJ, Robinson LP, Wechsler AW, Sutton GL, Cheng J, Taylor P, McClellan K. Six-year review of Acanthamoeba keratitis in New South Wales, Australia: 1997-2002. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. 2005 Feb;33(1):41-6.

1.

Roy S, Kabir M, Mondal D, Ali IK, Petri WA Jr, Haque R. Real-time-PCR assay for diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica infection. J Clin Microbiol. 2005 May;43(5):2168-72.

International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh.

We developed a real-time-PCR assay utilizing a molecular-beacon probe for the detection of Entamoeba histolytica and compared its sensitivity to stool antigen detection and traditional PCR. A total of 205 stool and liver abscess pus specimens from patients and controls were used for this purpose, 101 (49%) of which were positive by the TechLab E. histolytica-specific antigen detection test, while the other 104 (51%) stool and liver abscess pus specimens were negative by the antigen detection test. DNA was extracted from the stool and liver abscess pus specimens by the QIAGEN method and the small-subunit rRNA gene of E. histolytica and then amplified by traditional and real-time PCR. Out of these 205 stool and liver abscess pus specimens, 124 were positive by the real-time-PCR assay and 90 were positive by the traditional-PCR test. Compared to the real-time-PCR assay, the antigen detection test was 79% sensitive and 96% specific. When the traditional-PCR test results were compared to the real-time-PCR assay, the sensitivity of traditional PCR was 72% and the specificity was 99%. In conclusion, all three methods for the detection of E. histolytica were highly specific, with real-time PCR being the most sensitive.

Diagnostics, Immunodiagnosis & Immunodiagnostics:  

12517.  Roy S, Kabir M, Mondal D, Ali IK, Petri WA Jr, Haque R. Real-time-PCR assay for diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica infection. J Clin Microbiol. 2005 May;43(5):2168-72

12517.    Kaji Y, Hu B, Kawana K, Oshika T. Swimming with soft contact lenses: danger of acanthamoeba keratitis. Lancet Infect Dis. 2005 Jun;5(6):392.

12518.  Pinheiro SM, Maciel RF, Morais MA Jr, Aca IS, Carvalho LB Jr, Coimbra MR. Genetic characterization of Entamoeba dispar isolates in Northeast Brazil. Acta Trop. 2005 Apr;94(1):35-40. 

12519.  Sim S, Yong TS, Park SJ, Im KI, Kong Y, Ryu JS, Min DY, Shin MH. NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species-mediated activation of ERK1/2 is required for apoptosis of human neutrophils induced by Entamoeba histolytica. J Immunol. 2005 Apr 1;174(7):4279-88.

12520. Sissons J, Kim KS, Stins M, Jayasekera S, Alsam S, Khan NA. Acanthamoeba castellanii induces host cell death via a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent mechanism. Infect Immun. 2005 May;73(5):2704-8.

Therapy:

12521.  Nazir Z, Qazi SH. Amebic liver abscesses among neonates can mimic bacterial sepsis. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2005 May;24(5):464-6. 

Diagnosis, Diagnostics, Immunodiagnosis & Immunodiagnostics:

11946. Huang MH, Chen CH, Yen CM, Yang JC, Yang CC, Yeh YH, Chou DA, Yueh SK, Yang YY, Nien CK. Relation of hepatolithiasis to helminthic infestation. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005 Jan;20(1):141-6.

11947.   Esser-Kochling BG, Hirsch FW. Images in clinical medicine. Ascaris lumbricoides blocking the common bile duct. N Engl J Med. 2005 Feb 3;352(5):e4.

11948. Selimoglu MA, Ozturk CF, Ertekin V. A rare manifestation of ascariasis: encephalopathy. J Emerg Med. 2005 Jan;28(1):87-8.

October 2005

12523.  Sherman SC, Weber JM.  The CT diagnosis of Ascariasis. J Emerg Med. 2005 May;28(4):471-2.

12524.  Faulkner H, Turner J, Behnke J, Kamgno J, Rowlinson MC, Bradley JE, Boussinesq M.  Associations between filarial and gastrointestinal nematodes. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2005 Apr;99(4):301-12.