The following were seen under 40x magnification growing on tap water agar, 5 days after inoculation with brain tissue. The patient had a slowly progressive meningoencephalitis. Identification? What stages of this organism are seen in this image? (CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE).
I think its Acanthamoebea spp. Nasty stuff. We see the double membrane of the cyst and the trophozoite in the bottom field have some spikey protrusions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Acanthamoeba. It's one of the "stars" of the amoeba world, and the cyst reminds me of that. I believe the disease process is much quicker with Naeglaria (and Balamuthia, too, I think).
ReplyDeleteWell, it's a difficult choice for me between Acanthamoeba and N.fowleri, however given the somewhat insidious process in the vignette, I'll go with Acanthamoeba.
ReplyDeleteN. fowleri is usually a nasty, fulminant couse of illness.
pathresident