Fatal encephalitis caused by free-living amoebas in an infant from Piura, Peru

Mori-Llontop L.M.; Alaña-Peña V.M.; Pregúntegui-Loayza I.F.; Mayo-Simón N.L.; Cabello-Vílchez A.M.; López-Revilla J. · Anales de la Facultad de Medicina (2025) · DOI: 10.15381/anales.v86i3.30324

Resumen

Free-living amoeba encephalitis usually causes severe disease with high mortality despite appropriate management. We present the case of a 7-month-old infant from northern Peru who had a 10-day illness characterized by irritability, hypoactivity, gaze deviation, and drowsiness. Both cerebrospinal fluid analysis and brain biopsy revealed structures compatible with free-living amoebae. Molecular analysis by PCR was ultimately negative for Acanthoameba sp. and Ballamuthia sp. Molecular analysis of CSF is important to identify the amoeba species involved.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; Universidad Científica del Sur