Acanthameba

Acanthamoeba are microscopic amoeba commonly found in the environment. Several species of Acanthamoeba can infect humans, like: A. culbertsoni, A. polyphaga, A. castellanii, A. healyi, A. astronyxis, A. hatchetti, A. rhysodes, and many others. Acanthamoeba are found in the soil and dust, in fresh water sources such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs and in hot tubs, also in brackish water and in sea water. Acanthamoeba can enter the skin through a cut, wound, or through the nostrils and once inside the body, amoeba can travel to the lungs and through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. It is especially dangerous if it travels to the central nervous system, brain and spinal cord. Acanthamoeba enter the eye via contact lenses or through a corneal cut or sore and Acanthamoeba spp. can cause skin lesions and systemic infection. Symptoms of infections are headaches, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, tiredness, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, loss of balance and bodily control, seizures, and hallucinations. They progresses over several weeks. Eye and skin infections are generally treatable but the infections of the brain (CNS) with Acanthamoeba are almost always fatal.