Cutaneous amoebiasis, refers to a form of amoebiasis that presents primarily in the skin. It can be caused by Acanthamoeba[2][3] or Entamoeba histolytica.[4]: 421 [5] When associated with Acanthamoeba, it is also known as "cutaneous acanthamoebiasis".[6]Balamuthia mandrillaris can also cause cutaneous amoebiasis, but can prove fatal if the amoeba enters the bloodstream [7][8]
It is characterized by ulcers. Diagnosis of amebiasis cutis calls for high degree of clinical suspicion. This needs to be backed with demonstration of trophozoites from lesions. Unless an early diagnosis can be made such patients can develop significant morbidity.[9]
^Rocha-Azevedo B, Jamerson M, Cabral GA, Silva-Filho FC, Marciano-Cabral F (January 2007). "The interaction between the amoeba Balamuthia mandrillaris and extracellular matrix glycoproteins in vitro". Parasitology. 134 (Pt 1): 51–8. doi:10.1017/S0031182006001272. PMID17032481. S2CID27417759.
^Pritzker AS, Kim BK, Agrawal D, Southern PM, Pandya AG (February 2004). "Fatal granulomatous amebic encephalitis caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris presenting as a skin lesion". J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 50 (2 Suppl): S38–41. doi:10.1016/s0190-9622(03)02090-5. PMID14726864.
^Verma, Ghanshyam K; Sharma, Nand Lal; Shanker, Vinay; Mahajan, Vikram K; Kaushik, Rajani; Verma, Santwana; Jindal, Nidhi (February 2010). "Amoebiasis cutis: Clinical suspicion is the key to early diagnosis". Australasian Journal of Dermatology. 51 (1): 52–55. doi:10.1111/j.1440-0960.2009.00594.x. PMID20148845. S2CID205454111.