Diagnosing Balamuthia mandrillaris encephalitis via next-generation sequencing in a 13-year-old girl. Issue 1 (1st January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Xia; Yan, Gangfeng; Han, Shuzhen; Ye, Yingzi; Cheng, Xunjia; Gong, Hairong; Yu, Hui
• Is Part Of: Emerging microbes & infections. Volume 9:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 1379
• Page End: 1387
• Publication Date: 2020-01-01
• Subjects: Balamuthia mandrillaris -- Balamuthia amoebic encephalitis -- granulomatous amebic encephalitis -- next-generation sequencing -- children; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1775130
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2222-1751

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Balamuthia amoebic encephalitis has a subacute-to-chronic course and is almost invariably fatal owing to delayed diagnosis and a lack of effective therapy. Here, we report a 13-year-old girl with cutaneous lesions and multifocal granulomatous encephalitis. The patient underwent a series of tests and was suspected as having tuberculosis. She was treated with various empiric therapies without improvement. She was finally correctly diagnosed via next-generation sequencing of the cerebrospinal fluid. The patient deteriorated rapidly and died 2 months after being diagnosed with Balamuthia mandrillaris encephalitis. This study highlights the important clinical significance of next-generation sequencing, which provides better diagnostic testing for unexplained paediatric encephalitis, especially that caused by rare or emerging pathogens.