Balamuthia infection is a cutaneous condition resulting from Balamuthia that may result in various skin lesions. Balamuthia mandrillarisis a free-living amoeba (a single-celled living organism) found in the environment. It is one of the causes of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE), a serious infection of the brain and spinal cord. Balamuthia is thought to enter the body when soil containing it comes in contact with skin wounds and cuts, or when dust containing it is breathed in or gets in the mouth. The Balamuthia amoebae can then travel to the brain through the blood stream and cause GAE. GAE is a very rare disease that is usually fatal.