Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

"brain"

Case Report

Delayed Cerebral Toxoplasmosis in a Kidney Transplant Patient: a Case Report: Hosung Myeong, Moowan Park, Ji Eun Kim, Sun Won Park, Sang Hyung Lee; Korean J Parasitol 2022;60(1):35-38.
Published online February 23, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2022.60.1.35

Abstract
PDF

Cerebral toxoplasmosis is often life-threatening in an immunocompromised patient due to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Several differential diagnoses could be possible only with preoperative brain images of cerebral toxoplasmosis which show multiple rim-enhancing lesions. Due to the rarity of cerebral toxoplasmosis cases in Korea, the diagnosis and treatment are often delayed. This paper concerns a male patient whose cerebral toxoplasmosis was activated 21 years post kidney transplantation. Brain open biopsy was decided to make an exact diagnosis. Cerebral toxoplasmosis was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and PCR analyses of the tissue samples. Although cerebral toxoplasmosis was under control with medication, the patient did not recover clinically and died due to sepsis and recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Disseminated toxoplasmosis infection 20 years post kidney transplant
Shaun Chandler, Lana Sundac, Carmel Hawley
BMJ Case Reports.2024; 17(9): e260412. CrossRef
Ciclosporin/mycophenolate mofetil

Reactions Weekly.2022; 1916(1): 146. CrossRef

4,023 View
202 Download
1 Web of Science
Crossref

Brief Communication

High Toxoplasma gondii Seropositivity among Brain Tumor Patients in Korea: Bong-Kwang Jung, Hyemi Song, Min-Jae Kim, Jaeeun Cho, Eun-Hee Shin, Jong-Yil Chai; Korean J Parasitol 2016;54(2):201-204.
Published online April 30, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2016.54.2.201

Abstract
PDF

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan that can modulate the environment of the infected host. An unfavorable environment modulated by T. gondii in the brain includes tumor microenvironment. Literature has suggested that T. gondii infection is associated with development of brain tumors. However, in Korea, epidemiological data regarding this correlation have been scarce. In this study, in order to investigate the relationship between T. gondii infection and brain tumor development, we investigated the seroprevalence of T. gondii among 93 confirmed brain tumor patients (various histological types, including meningioma and astrocytoma) in Korea using ELISA. The results revealed that T. gondii seropositivity among brain tumor patients (18.3%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared with that of healthy controls (8.6%). The seropositivity of brain tumor patients showed a significant age-tendency, i.e., higher in younger age group, compared with age-matched healthy controls (P<0.05). In conclusion, this study supports the close relationship between T. gondii infection and incidence of brain tumors.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Relationship between parasites and lung cancer: Unveiling the link
Mariam T. El Khadrawe, Nahla El Skhawy, Maha M. Eissa
Tropical Medicine & International Health.2025; 30(7): 613. CrossRef
Comprehensive analysis of Toxoplasma gondii migration routes and tissue dissemination in the host
Carlos J. Ramírez-Flores, Ricardo Mondragón-Flores, Mehmet Aykur
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.2025; 19(7): e0013369. CrossRef
Unveiling the Hidden Burden of TORCH Infections in HIV Patients: A Residual Serum Seroepidemiological Study in a Korean Metropolitan City
Hye Jin Shi, Myung-Deok Kim-Jeon, Jung-Hee Kim, Kyung-Ae Kim, Yoonseon Park, Juyeong Lee, Shin Hee Hong, Jaeyong Song, Meyong Hee Kim, Munju Kwon, Joong Sik Eom
Infection & Chemotherapy.2025; 57(4): 578. CrossRef
Toxoplasma gondii: Seroprevalence and association with childhood brain tumors in Egypt
Marwa M. Hamouda, Amany S. El-Saied, Ahmed Zaher, Amr Farid Khalil, Ayat A. ElBlihy, Nairmen Nabih, Samar N. El-Beshbishi
Acta Tropica.2024; 251: 107123. CrossRef
Whorling‐sclerosing meningioma invading skull bone and subcutaneous tissue with an incidental toxoplasmosis: A case report
Zeina Alabbas, Yamani Tamer, Mhammad Jneidi, Rana Issa
Neuropathology.2023; 43(3): 262. CrossRef
Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with brain tumors in Southern Iran: a case-control study
Qasem Asgari, Farshad Rajabi, Fataneh Sajadian, Mohammad Saleh Bahreini, Nasir Arefkhah
Journal of Parasitic Diseases.2023; 47(2): 291. CrossRef
Differentiating Cerebral Toxoplasmosis and Tumor Recurrence by Thallium-201 Single-Photon Emission Computerized Tomography in a 28-Year-Old Female with Astrocytoma
Mia Patrice Dela Vega, Paul Vincent Opinaldo, Julette Marie Batara
Case Reports in Oncology.2023; : 372. CrossRef
Toxoplasma gondii infection/exposure and the risk of brain tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Ali Abdollahi, Iman Razavian, Elnaz Razavian, Sahar Ghodsian, Mustafa Almukhtar, Elika Marhoommirzabak, Behnam Sartip, Hamid Parsa, Ali Rostami
Cancer Epidemiology.2022; 77: 102119. CrossRef
Toxoplasma gondii and Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected from migratory birds in the Republic of Korea
A.-Tai Truong, Mi-Sun Yoo, Subin Min, Ji-Yeon Lim, Hyun-Ji Seo, Heung-Chul Kim, Sung-Tae Chong, Terry A. Klein, Chang-uk Park, Sook-Young Cho, Chang-Yong Choi, Young-Soo Kwon, Miran Kim, Soon-Seek Yoon, Yun Sang Cho
Scientific Reports.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Serology for Toxoplasma in Immunocompromised Patients: Still Useful?
Damien Dupont, Hélène Fricker-Hidalgo, Marie-Pierre Brenier-Pinchart, Cécile Garnaud, Martine Wallon, Hervé Pelloux
Trends in Parasitology.2021; 37(3): 205. CrossRef
Toxoplasma gondii infection and the risk of adult glioma in two prospective studies
James M. Hodge, Anna E. Coghill, Youngchul Kim, Noemi Bender, Stephanie A. Smith‐Warner, Susan Gapstur, Lauren R. Teras, Tom K. Grimsrud, Tim Waterboer, Kathleen M. Egan
International Journal of Cancer.2021; 148(10): 2449. CrossRef
Imiquimod Targets Toxoplasmosis Through Modulating Host Toll-Like Receptor-MyD88 Signaling
Maguy Hamie, Rania Najm, Carine Deleuze-Masquefa, Pierre Antoine Bonnet, Jean-François Dubremetz, Marwan El Sabban, Hiba El Hajj
Frontiers in Immunology.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
Infratentorial Stereotactic Biopsy of Brainstem and Cerebellar Lesions
Jacek Furtak, Paulina Śledzińska, Marek G. Bebyn, Tadeusz Szylberg, Stanisław Krajewski, Marcin Birski, Marek Harat
Brain Sciences.2021; 11(11): 1432. CrossRef
Comprehensive Overview of Toxoplasma gondii-Induced and Associated Diseases
Darine Daher, Ahmad Shaghlil, Eyad Sobh, Maguy Hamie, Malika Elhage Hassan, Mohamad Bahij Moumneh, Shaymaa Itani, Rana El Hajj, Lina Tawk, Marwan El Sabban, Hiba El Hajj
Pathogens.2021; 10(11): 1351. CrossRef
Molecular Detection of Toxoplasma Gondii in Haemaphysalis Ticks in Korea
Ju Yeong Kim, You Shine Kwak, In-Yong Lee, Tai-Soon Yong
The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2020; 58(3): 327. CrossRef
Increased risk of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cancer patients: A meta-analysis of current evidence based on case-control study
Lei Liu, Peng Wang, Jing Xu, Chao-Ming Xia
Acta Tropica.2019; 192: 30. CrossRef
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Davood Anvari, Mehdi Sharif, Shahabeddin Sarvi, Sargis A. Aghayan, Shirzad Gholami, Abdol Sattar Pagheh, Seyed Abdollah Hosseini, Reza Saberi, Tooran Nayeri Chegeni, Zahra Hosseininejad, Ahmad Daryani
Microbial Pathogenesis.2019; 129: 30. CrossRef
Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in oral cancer patients in China: a case–control prospective study
N. Zhou, X. Y. Zhang, Y. X. Li, L. Wang, L. L. Wang, W. Cong
Epidemiology and Infection.2018; 146(15): 1891. CrossRef
Puzzling and ambivalent roles of malarial infections in cancer development and progression
ERIC FAURE
Parasitology.2016; 143(14): 1811. CrossRef

10,882 View
141 Download
19 Web of Science
Crossref

Original Articles

Phospholipase Activities in Clinical and Environmental Isolates of Acanthamoeba: Abdul Matin, Suk-Yul Jung; Korean J Parasitol 2011;49(1):1-8.
Published online March 18, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2011.49.1.1

Abstract
PDF

The pathogenesis and pathophysiology of Acanthamoeba infections remain incompletely understood. Phos-pholipases are known to cleave phospholipids, suggesting their possible involvement in the host cell plasma membrane disruption leading to host cell penetration and lysis. The aims of the present study were to determine phospholipase activities in Acanthamoeba and to determine their roles in the pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba. Using an encephalitis isolate (T1 genotype), a keratitis isolate (T4 genotype), and an environmental isolate (T7 genotype), we demonstrated that Acanthamoeba exhibited phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) and phospholipase D (PLD) activities in a spectrophotometry-based assay. Interestingly, the encephalitis isolates of Acanthamoeba exhibited higher phospholipase activities as compared with the keratitis isolates, but the environmental isolates exhibited the highest phospholipase activities. Moreover, Acanthamoeba isolates exhibited higher PLD activities compared with the PLA₂. Acanthamoeba exhibited optimal phospholipase activities at 37℃ and at neutral pH indicating their physiological relevance. The functional role of phospholipases was determined by in vitro assays using human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), which constitute the blood-brain barrier. We observed that a PLD-specific inhibitor, i.e., compound 48/80, partially inhibited Acanthamoeba encephalitis isolate cytotoxicity of the host cells, while PLA₂-specific inhibitor, i.e., cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine, had no effect on parasite-mediated HBMEC cytotoxicity. Overall, the T7 exhibited higher phospholipase activities as compared to the T4. In contract, the T7 exhibited minimal binding to, or cytotoxicity of, HBMEC.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Detection of immunogenic protein components in excretion/secretion products of Acanthamoeba T5 using polyclonal antibodies
Lissette Retana-Moreira, Elizabeth Abrahams-Sandí, Marco Ruiz-Campos, Johan Alvarado-Ocampo, Julián Castro, Jacob Lorenzo-Morales, Giovanni Sáenz-Arce, Antonio Osuna
Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Comprehensive characterization of extracellular vesicles produced by environmental (Neff) and clinical (T4) strains of Acanthamoeba castellanii
Elisa Gonçalves Medeiros, Michele Ramos Valente, Leandro Honorato, Marina da Silva Ferreira, Susana Ruiz Mendoza, Diego de Souza Gonçalves, Lucas Martins Alcântara, Kamilla Xavier Gomes, Marcia Ribeiro Pinto, Ernesto S. Nakayasu, Geremy Clair, Isadora Fil
mSystems.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Epidemiology of and Genetic Factors Associated with Acanthamoeba Keratitis
Muhammad Ilyas, Fiona Stapleton, Mark D. P. Willcox, Fiona Henriquez, Hari Kumar Peguda, Binod Rayamajhee, Tasbiha Zahid, Constantinos Petsoglou, Nicole A. Carnt
Pathogens.2024; 13(2): 142. CrossRef
Biological characteristics and pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba
Yuehua Wang, Linzhe Jiang, Yitong Zhao, Xiaohong Ju, Le Wang, Liang Jin, Ryan D. Fine, Mingguang Li
Frontiers in Microbiology.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Extracellular Vesicles Secreted by Acanthamoeba culbertsoni Have COX and Proteolytic Activity and Induce Hemolysis
Francisco Sierra-López, Ismael Castelan-Ramírez, Dolores Hernández-Martínez, Lizbeth Salazar-Villatoro, David Segura-Cobos, Catalina Flores-Maldonado, Verónica Ivonne Hernández-Ramírez, Tomás Ernesto Villamar-Duque, Adolfo René Méndez-Cruz, Patricia Talam
Microorganisms.2023; 11(11): 2762. CrossRef
The gene expression and proteomic profiling of Acanthamoeba isolates
Chayan Sharma, Sumeeta Khurana, Alka Bhatia, Amit Arora, Amit Gupta
Experimental Parasitology.2023; 255: 108630. CrossRef
Therapeutic agents and biocides for ocular infections by free-living amoebae of Acanthamoeba genus
Linda Christian Carrijo-Carvalho, Viviane Peracini Sant'ana, Annette Silva Foronda, Denise de Freitas, Fabio Ramos de Souza Carvalho
Survey of Ophthalmology.2017; 62(2): 203. CrossRef
Single-Step Assembly of Multifunctional Poly(tannic acid)–Graphene Oxide Coating To Reduce Biofouling of Forward Osmosis Membranes
Hanaa M. Hegab, Ahmed ElMekawy, Thomas G. Barclay, Andrew Michelmore, Linda Zou, Christopher P. Saint, Milena Ginic-Markovic
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.2016; 8(27): 17519. CrossRef
In vitro inhibition of protease-activated receptors 1, 2 and 4 demonstrates that these receptors are not involved in an Acanthamoeba castellanii keratitis isolate-mediated disruption of the human brain microvascular endothelial cells
Junaid Iqbal, Komal Naeem, Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Naveed Ahmed Khan
Experimental Parasitology.2014; 145: S78. CrossRef

9,388 View
82 Download
Crossref

Construction of EST Database for Comparative Gene Studies of Acanthamoeba: Eun-Kyung Moon, Joung-Ok Kim, Ying-Hua Xuan, Young-Sun Yun, Se Won Kang, Yong Seok Lee, Tae-In Ahn, Yeon-Chul Hong, Dong-Il Chung, Hyun-Hee Kong; Korean J Parasitol 2009;47(2):103-107.
Published online May 26, 2009; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2009.47.2.103

Abstract
PDF

The genus Acanthamoeba can cause severe infections such as granulomatous amebic encephalitis and amebic keratitis in humans. However, little genomic information of Acanthamoeba has been reported. Here, we constructed Acanthamoeba expressed sequence tags (EST) database (Acanthamoeba EST DB) derived from our 4 kinds of Acanthamoeba cDNA library. The Acanthamoeba EST DB contains 3,897 EST generated from amebae under various conditions of long term in vitro culture, mouse brain passage, or encystation, and downloaded data of Acanthamoeba from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and Taxonomically Broad EST Database (TBestDB). The almost reported cDNA/genomic sequences of Acanthamoeba provide stand alone BLAST system with nucleotide (BLAST NT) and amino acid (BLAST AA) sequence database. In BLAST results, each gene links for the significant information including sequence data, gene orthology annotations, relevant references, and a BlastX result. This is the first attempt for construction of Acanthamoeba database with genes expressed in diverse conditions. These data were integrated into a database (http://www.amoeba.or.kr).

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

High-efficiency transfection of Acanthamoeba castellanii using a cationic polymer
Anaísa B. Moreno, Viktor Ek, Jens Eriksson, Mikael E. Sellin, Lionel Guy
Cell Reports Methods.2026; : 101269. CrossRef
Recombinant protein expression in Acanthamoeba castellanii
Pooja Salunke, Kiran Kondabagil, Yogesh A. Karpe
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Biological characteristics and pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba
Yuehua Wang, Linzhe Jiang, Yitong Zhao, Xiaohong Ju, Le Wang, Liang Jin, Ryan D. Fine, Mingguang Li
Frontiers in Microbiology.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Autophagy protein 12 plays an essential role in Acanthamoeba encystation
So-Hee Kim, Eun-Kyung Moon, Yeonchul Hong, Dong-Il Chung, Hyun-Hee Kong
Experimental Parasitology.2015; 159: 46. CrossRef
Caspase-like proteins: Acanthamoeba castellanii metacaspase and Dictyostelium discoideum paracaspase, what are their functions?
Entsar Saheb, Wendy Trzyna, John Bush
Journal of Biosciences.2014; 39(5): 909. CrossRef
Helminth parasites of fish and shellfish from the Santa Gilla Lagoon in southern Sardinia, Italy
J. Culurgioni, A. Sabatini, R. De Murtas, S. Mattiucci, V. Figus
Journal of Helminthology.2014; 88(04): 489. CrossRef
Microarray and KOG analysis of Acanthamoeba healyi genes up-regulated by mouse-brain passage
Eun-Kyung Moon, Ying-Hua Xuan, Hyun-Hee Kong
Experimental Parasitology.2014; 143: 69. CrossRef
Protein kinase C signaling molecules regulate encystation of Acanthamoeba
Eun-Kyung Moon, Dong-Il Chung, Yeonchul Hong, Hyun-Hee Kong
Experimental Parasitology.2012; 132(4): 524. CrossRef
Microarray Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes between Cysts and Trophozoites ofAcanthamoeba castellanii
Eun-Kyung Moon, Ying-Hua Xuan, Dong-Il Chung, Yeonchul Hong, Hyun-Hee Kong
The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2011; 49(4): 341. CrossRef
Drug target identification, validation, characterisation and exploitation for treatment of Acanthamoeba (species) infections
Craig W. Roberts, Fiona L. Henriquez
Experimental Parasitology.2010; 126(1): 91. CrossRef
Construction of Web-Based Database for Anisakis Research
Yong-Seok Lee, Moon-Ki Baek, Yong-Hun Jo, Se-Won Kang, Jae-Bong Lee, Yeon-Soo Han, Hee-Jae Cha, Hak-Sun Yu, Mee-Sun Ock
Journal of Life Science.2010; 20(3): 411. CrossRef

10,439 View
59 Download
Crossref

Case Report

Cerebellar Schistosomiasis: A Case Report with Clinical Analysis: Heng Wan, Ding Lei, Qing Mao; Korean J Parasitol 2009;47(1):53-56.
Published online March 12, 2009; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2009.47.1.53

Abstract
PDF

The authors report here a rare case of cerebellar schistosomiasis identified by pathological diagnosis, lacking extracranial involvement. The clinical symptoms included headache, dizziness, and nausea. Studies in blood were normal and no parasite eggs were detected in stool. Computed tomography of brains showed hypodense signal, and magnetic resonance imaging showed isointense signal on T1-weighted images, hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images, and intensely enhancing nodules in the right cerebellum after intravenous administration of gadolinium. A high-grade glioma was suspected, and an operation was performed. The pathologic examination of the biopsy specimen revealed schistosomal granulomas scattered within the parenchyma of the cerebellum. The definitive diagnosis was cerebellar schistosomiasis japonica. A standard use of praziquantel and corticosteroid drugs was applied, and the prognosis was good. When the pattern of imaging examinations is present as mentioned above, a diagnosis of brain schistosomiasis should be considered.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Pseudotumoral Encephalic Schistosomiasis: A Literature Review
Marwa Ibrahim, Khaled Gad, Tufail Khan, Waleed Yousef, Zafdam Shabbir, Mustafa Najibullah, Wael T. Abodief, Hussain H. Jarkhi, Waleed A. Azab
World Neurosurgery.2024; 184: 5. CrossRef
Delayed cerebellar ataxia induced by Plasmodium falciparum malaria: A rare complication
Emmanuel Edwar Siddig, Sarah Misbah El‐Sadig, Hala Fathi Eltigani, Ahmed Mudawi Musa, Nouh Saad Mohamed, Ayman Ahmed
Clinical Case Reports.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
In Vivo Evaluation of an Antibody-Functionalized Lipoidal Nanosystem for Schistosomiasis Intervention
Tayo A. Adekiya, Pradeep Kumar, Pierre P. D. Kondiah, Yahya E. Choonara
Pharmaceutics.2022; 14(8): 1531. CrossRef
Case Report: Multiple Schistosomiasis Japonica Cerebral Granulomas without Gastrointestinal System Involvement: Report of Two Cases and Review of Literature
Jun Shen, Lili Yuan, Yongkang Sun, Xiaochun Jiang, Xuefei Shao
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.2020; 102(6): 1376. CrossRef
A 55‐Year‐Old Male with Intermittent Headache
Zhe Bao Wu, Yi Jun Cheng, Wei Guo Zhao
Brain Pathology.2018; 28(2): 307. CrossRef
Case 23-2015
Richard C. Cabot, Eric S. Rosenberg, Nancy Lee Harris, Jo-Anne O. Shepard, Alice M. Cort, Sally H. Ebeling, Emily K. McDonald, Tracy T. Batchelor, Yi-Bin Chen, Otto Rapalino, Inma Cobos
New England Journal of Medicine.2015; 373(4): 367. CrossRef
Pseudotumoral Form of Neuroschistosomiasis: Report of Three Cases in Ganzi, China
De-Fu Zheng, Li-Ping Zhang, Hayashi Masataka, Heng Wan
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.2012; 86(2): 268. CrossRef
Neuroschistosomiasis: clinical symptoms and pathogenesis
Teresa Cristina A Ferrari, Paulo Roberto R Moreira
The Lancet Neurology.2011; 10(9): 853. CrossRef
Magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid immunoassay in the diagnosis of cerebral schistosomiasis: experience in Southwest China
Heng Wan, Hayashi Masataka, Ting Lei, Ming Li
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.2009; 103(10): 1059. CrossRef