Abstract:Balamuthia mandrillaris is a pathogenic free-living amoeba that causes skin lesions, with mild primary symptoms and subacute or chronic central nervous system infection (granulomatous amebic encephalitis, or GAE). These infections seriously endanger human health in some countries of the world. The fatality rate of GAE exceeds 95%, and the pathogenic mechanism remains unclear. GAE can be diagnosed through a variety of methods such as biopsy, serological examination, tissue culture, gene sequencing, and molecular biological technology. This article reviews the etiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Balamuthia amoebic encephalitis, to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of this disease.
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