Free-living Acanthamoeba infection – Cutaneous biopsy histopathology aspect [HESx1000]

France, Staroz Frédéric

Free living amoebae, including those of the genus Acanthamoeba, may be the source of disseminated infections in immunocompromised patients. The fearful prognosis hence the need for early diagnosis. A trophozoite is visible in the center of the photograph. This is a difficult diagnosis, posited here in post-mortem, in a pulmonary transplant patient for cystic fibrosis. The agent involved was Acanthamoeba castellanii (T4 genotype).