The Effect of Different Environmental Conditions on the Viability of Naegleria fowleri Amoebae. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2019 Sep;66(5):752-756
Date
02/14/2019Pubmed ID
30758106DOI
10.1111/jeu.12719Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85064000630 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 28 CitationsAbstract
Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba found in soil and freshwater environments, is the causative agent of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis. Infection occurs when amoebae enter the nasal cavity, attach to the nasal mucosa and travel along olfactory neurons towards the olfactory bulb. Upon reaching the central nervous system, the amoebae replicate very rapidly and can cause death in 3-10 days. Little is known about the conditions in which the amoeba can survive in the environment. We have tested conditions beyond the known boundaries on the viability of amoebae by introducing them into moderate and extreme salinity, pH, and temperatures. Our data shows that although viability expectedly decreases towards each of these extreme conditions, their tolerance was much greater than anticipated, including viability in moderate salinity, a wide pH range, and temperatures higher than the previously reported 45 °C.
Author List
Lam C, He L, Marciano-Cabral FAuthor
Li He Postdoctoral Researcher in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AmebiasisAnimals
Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections
Ecosystem
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Naegleria fowleri
Temperature
