Microbiology & infectious diseases
Parasites-eye
Acanthamoeba
Author: Nat Pernick, M.D.
Last author update: 25 June 2019
Last staff update: 5 October 2020
Copyright: 2019-2025, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Acanthamoeba[TI] pathology free full text[sb]
See Also: Eye - Acanthamoeba keratitis
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Case reports | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) imagesCite this page: Pernick N. Acanthamoeba. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/parasitologyacanthamoeba.html. Accessed January 15th, 2025.
Definition / general
- Rare but serious complication of contact lenses due to contamination of contact lens cleaning systems
- Organisms are ubiquitous protozoa in soil and fresh water
- Infections wax and wane, may infiltrate cornea along corneal nerve and cause pain
Case reports
- Structures were seen on a non-nutrient agar culture that had been inoculated with corneal scrapings (Pritt: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites Blog - Case of the Week 542 [Accessed 25 June 2019])
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Characteristic double walled cyst and trophozoite (Pritt: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites Blog - Answer to Case 542 [Accessed 25 June 2019])
Microscopic (histologic) images
Contributed by Bobbi Pritt, M.D. and Heather Arguello
Double walled cyst and trophozoite
