Cutaneous amoebiasis explained

Cutaneous amoebiasis
Synonyms:	Aoebiasis cutis^[1]

Cutaneous amoebiasis, refers to a form of amoebiasis that presents primarily in the skin. It can be caused by Acanthamoeba^{[2] [3]} or Entamoeba histolytica.^{[4] [5]} When associated with Acanthamoeba, it is also known as "cutaneous acanthamoebiasis".^[6] Balamuthia mandrillaris can also cause cutaneous amoebiasis, but can prove fatal if the amoeba enters the bloodstream ^{[7] [8]} It is characterized by ulcers. Diagnosis of amebiasis cutis calls for high degree of clinical suspicion. This needs to be backed with demonstration of trophozoites from lesions. Unless an early diagnosis can be made such patients can develop significant morbidity.^[9]

See also

• Skin lesion

Notes and References

1. Bumb RA, Mehta RD . Amoebiasis cutis in HIV positive patient . Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol . 72 . 3 . 224–6 . 2006 . 16766840 . 10.4103/0378-6323.25786. free .
2. Web site: EyeRounds.org:Acanthamoeba Keratitis: 39-year-old contact lens wearer with persisting keratitis & pain . 2009-01-17.
3. Walia R, Montoya JG, Visvesvera GS, Booton GC, Doyle RL . A case of successful treatment of cutaneous Acanthamoeba infection in a lung transplant recipient . Transpl Infect Dis . 9 . 1 . 51–4 . March 2007 . 17313473 . 10.1111/j.1399-3062.2006.00159.x . 36545333 .
4. Book: James, William D. . Berger, Timothy G. . Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: clinical Dermatology . Saunders Elsevier . 2006 . 0-7216-2921-0 . etal.
5. Kenner BM, Rosen T . Cutaneous amebiasis in a child and review of the literature . Pediatr Dermatol . 23 . 3 . 231–4 . 2006 . 16780468 . 10.1111/j.1525-1470.2006.00223.x . 43245801 .
6. Da Rocha-Azevedo . B.. Tanowitz . H.. Marciano-Cabral . F.. Diagnosis of infections caused by pathogenic free-living amoebae. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases. 2009. 251406. 2009. 19657454. 10.1155/2009/251406. 2719787. free.
7. Rocha-Azevedo B, Jamerson M, Cabral GA, Silva-Filho FC, Marciano-Cabral F . The interaction between the amoeba Balamuthia mandrillaris and extracellular matrix glycoproteins in vitro . Parasitology . 134 . Pt 1 . 51–8 . January 2007 . 17032481 . 10.1017/S0031182006001272 . 27417759 .
8. Pritzker AS, Kim BK, Agrawal D, Southern PM, Pandya AG . Fatal granulomatous amebic encephalitis caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris presenting as a skin lesion . J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. . 50 . 2 Suppl . S38–41 . February 2004 . 14726864 . 10.1016/s0190-9622(03)02090-5 .
9. Verma. Ghanshyam K. Sharma. Nand Lal. Shanker. Vinay. Mahajan. Vikram K. Kaushik. Rajani. Verma. Santwana. Jindal. Nidhi. Amoebiasis cutis: Clinical suspicion is the key to early diagnosis. Australasian Journal of Dermatology. February 2010. 51. 1. 52–55. 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2009.00594.x. 20148845. 205454111 .