| Balamuthia infection | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Dermatology |
Balamuthia infection is a cutaneous condition resulting from Balamuthia that may result in various skin lesions.[1]: 422
Balamuthia mandrillarisis a free-living amoeba (a single-celled living organism) found in the environment. It is one of the causes of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE), a serious infection of the brain and spinal cord. Balamuthia is thought to enter the body when soil containing it comes in contact with skin wounds and cuts, or when dust containing it is breathed in or gets in the mouth. The Balamuthia amoebae can then travel to the brain through the bloodstream and cause GAE. GAE is a very rare disease that is usually fatal.[2]
Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first discovered Balamuthia mandrillaris in 1986. The amoeba was found in the brain of a dead mandrill. After extensive research, B. mandrillaris was declared a new species in 1993. Since then, more than 200 cases of Balamuthia infection have been diagnosed worldwide, with at least 70 cases reported in the United States. Little is known at this time about how a person becomes infected.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ James, William D.; Berger, Timothy G.; et al. (2006). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0.
- ^ a b "CDC - Balamuthia - General Information - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)". Archived from the original on 9 July 2011.
External links
[edit]- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Balamuthia infection information, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
Well, that’s interesting to know that Psilotum nudum are known as whisk ferns. Psilotum nudum is the commoner species of the two. While the P. flaccidum is a rare species and is found in the tropical islands. Both the species are usually epiphytic in habit and grow upon tree ferns. These species may also be terrestrial and grow in humus or in the crevices of the rocks.
View the detailed Guide of Psilotum nudum: Detailed Study Of Psilotum Nudum (Whisk Fern), Classification, Anatomy, Reproduction