Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis

Abstract

THE following 3 case studies, related experimental data and review of the recent literature introduce a new clinical concept, that of primary meningoencephalitis due to the the free-living, soil ameba, commonly referred to as acanthameba (species). It is suggested that in these 3 cases there may be a common etiologic pattern of intranasal inoculation resulting from prolonged swimming in tepid lake water.Pathological findings in the first 2 cases were presented to the 1964 Scientific Session of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists,¹ and Patras and Andujar² reported similar findings in the brain of an elderly drug addict to the . . .