importance of acanthamoeba spp. in veterinary medicine

In this review, natural infections of animals with acanthamoeba and its interaction with pathogenic bacteria have been extensively researched to promote awareness amongst veterinarians of the effects of acanthamoeba spp. on the health of animals. the authors reviewed the literature available before 2024. acanthamoeba spp., are free-living amoebae (fla) in various natural environments such as fresh and brackish water, beach sand, soil, and air. they can cause acanthamoeba keratitis (ak), granulomatous amebic encephalitis (gae), and disseminated infections in animals. apart from their potential harm to animals as pathogens, acanthamoeba also serves as hosts for other microorganisms. consequently, certain pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and fungi have developed strategies to evade acanthamoeba s mechanisms for killing or inactivation. they exploit the amoeba as a reservoir or trojan horse to their advantage. these pathogens are more likely to survive and propagate once they have adapted to the intracellular environment of amoebae. reports have mentioned infections caused by acanthamoeba spp. in various animal species, but it appears that veterinarians have overlooked the risk of infection with this versatile protist in animals. in this review, records about natural infections of animals with acanthamoeba and its interaction with pathogenic bacteria highlight the importance of acanthamoeba spp. in veterinary medicine. acanthamoeba infections in animals are often challenging to diagnose and require specialized laboratory techniques for accurate identification. since this neglected infection can impact the lives and livelihoods of many animals informing the veterinarians and animal owners is necessary. owners of animals affected by acanthamoeba infections should work closely with veterinarians to ensure appropriate treatment and follow-up care.