Serologic survey for exposure following fatal Balamuthia mandrillaris infection.

TitleSerologic survey for exposure following fatal Balamuthia mandrillaris infection.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsJackson BR, Kucerova Z, Roy SL, Aguirre G, Weiss J, Sriram R, Yoder J, Foelber R, Baty S, Derado G, Stramer SL, Winkelman V, Visvesvara GS
JournalParasitology research// Parasitol Res
Volume113
Issue4
Pagination1305 - 11
Date Published2014//
ISBN Number1432-1955
Other Numberspre, 8703571
Keywords*Amebiasis/bl [Blood], *Balamuthia mandrillaris/py [Pathogenicity], *Blood Donors, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Amebiasis/mo [Mortality], Arizona, Cross-Sectional Studies, Encephalitis/bl [Blood], Encephalitis/mo [Mortality], Female, Gardening, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Occupational Exposure, Risk Factors, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Soil/ps [Parasitology], Young Adult
Abstract

Granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) from Balamuthia mandrillaris, a free-living ameba, has a case fatality rate exceeding 90% among recognized cases in the USA. In August 2010, a GAE cluster occurred following transplantation of infected organs from a previously healthy landscaper in Tucson, AZ, USA, who died from a suspected stroke. As B. mandrillaris is thought to be transmitted through soil, a serologic survey of landscapers and a comparison group of blood donors in southern Arizona was performed. Three (3.6%) of 83 serum samples from landscapers and 11 (2.5%) of 441 serum samples from blood donors were seropositive (p = 0.47). On multivariable analysis, county of residence was associated with seropositivity, whereas age, sex, and ethnicity were not. Exposure to B. mandrillaris, previously unexamined in North America, appears to be far more common than GAE in Southern Arizona. Risk factors for disease progression and the ameba's geographic range should be examined.
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