Kiderlen Albrecht F, Laube Ulrike, Radam Elke, Tata Phiroze S
Cellular Immunology Unit, Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
Parasitol Res. 2007 Mar;100(4):775-82. doi: 10.1007/s00436-006-0334-5. Epub 2006 Nov 17.
Balamuthia mandrillaris is an opportunistic agent of lethal granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE). In mice, we have shown that intranasally instilled B. mandrillaris amebae infect the brain via the olfactory nerve pathway. In this study, we raised the question whether this ameba might also reach the brain after an oral/gastrointestinal infection. Immunocompetent (WT) and immunodeficient (RAG) mice received B. mandrillaris amebae by gavage into the esophagus. Mice of both groups became ill and some died (WT 20%, RAG 40%) within 42 days. All orally infected mice revealed B. mandrillaris amebae in the central nervous system. Outwardly intact amebae and/or specific antigen were found widely distributed in various organs and the stool. The data indicate that oral infection with B. mandrillaris leading to GAE is possible. Exit from the gastrointestinal tract and dissemination remains unresolved. Though stool cultures were negative, transmission of this highly pathogenic ameba via stool cannot be ruled out.
曼氏巴通体是致死性肉芽肿性阿米巴脑炎（GAE）的一种机会性致病原。在小鼠实验中，我们已表明经鼻内接种的曼氏巴通体阿米巴可通过嗅神经途径感染大脑。在本研究中，我们提出了一个问题，即这种阿米巴在经口/胃肠道感染后是否也可能抵达大脑。将免疫功能正常（WT）和免疫缺陷（RAG）小鼠通过食管灌胃给予曼氏巴通体阿米巴。两组小鼠均发病，部分在42天内死亡（WT为20%，RAG为40%）。所有经口感染的小鼠在中枢神经系统中均发现了曼氏巴通体阿米巴。外观完整的阿米巴和/或特异性抗原广泛分布于各个器官和粪便中。数据表明，经口感染曼氏巴通体导致GAE是可能的。阿米巴从胃肠道的排出及播散情况仍未明确。尽管粪便培养为阴性，但不能排除这种高致病性阿米巴通过粪便传播的可能性。
