Amoebic Meningoencephalitis: Sixteen Fatalities

Cerva, L; Novák, K

doi:10.1126/science.160.3823.92

Cited by 80 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…DNA isolated from these strains served as controls in molecular investigations. Four Acanthamoeba laboratory isolates Acanthamoeba castellanii Neff, Acanthamoeba polyphaga -98, Acanthamoeba rhysodes , and Acanthamoeba astronyxis -190 were cultivated axenically (Červa and Novak 1968) in the laboratory of the Department of Tropical Parasitology, Medical University of Gdansk. Isolates of Naegleria : N. fowleri (strains: V212, V004, V414, V087), Naegleria italica , Naegleria lovaniensis , and Naegleria dunnebackei as well as Balamuthia mandrillaris were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The first genotype determination of Acanthamoeba potential threat to human health, isolated from natural water reservoirs in Poland

et al. 2014

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Different species of amoebae belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba are widely distributed in many parts of the world and known as free-living organisms. Some strains of the protozoans may exist as parasites and cause risk to human health as causative agents of serious human diseases. Currently, in Poland, there is no sufficient information about the distribution of Acanthamoeba strains and their genotypes in the environment. Therefore, 20 environmental surface water samples were collected from different sites located at five water reservoirs in Gdynia, Sopot, and Gdańsk (northern Poland). The material was cultured to obtain Acanthamoeba isolates that were then specifically analyzed with both PCR and real-time PCR assays. Of the 20 samples examined, Acanthamoeba DNA was found in 13 samples tested with the use of real-time PCR; in 10 of them, DNA of the amoeba was also detected using PCR technique. The comparison with sequences available in the GenBank confirmed that the PCR products are fragments of Acanthamoeba 18S rRNA gene and that isolates represent T4 genotype, known as the most common strains related to AK cases. This is the first investigation in Poland describing Acanthamoeba detection in environmental water samples with molecular techniques and genotyping. The results indicate that surface water in Poland may be a source of acanthamoebic strains potentially pathogenic for humans.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The first genotype determination of Acanthamoeba potential threat to human health, isolated from natural water reservoirs in Poland

et al. 2014

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“…Free-living amoebae (FLA) belonging to the Naegleria genus are worldwide-distributed protozoa which have predominately been isolated from natural water sources such as lakes, pools and rivers among others [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. Naegleria fowleri species, also known as brain-eating amoebae, are the only species of the genus which is able to infect humans, causing a lethal central nervous system (CNS) infection known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) [3,6,8,9,10,11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Vitro Activity of Statins against Naegleria fowleri

et al. 2019

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Naegleria fowleri causes a deadly disease called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Even though PAM is still considered a rare disease, the number of reported cases worldwide has been increasing each year. Among the factors to be considered for this, awareness about this disease, and also global warming, as these amoebae thrive in warm water bodies, seem to be the key factors. Until present, no fully effective drugs have been developed to treat PAM, and the current options are amphotericin B and miltefosine, which present side effects such as liver and kidney toxicity. Statins are able to inhibit the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, which is a key enzyme for the synthesis of ergosterol of the cell membrane of these amoebae. Therefore, the in vitro activity of a group of statins was tested in this study against two types of strains of Naegleria fowleri. The obtained results showed that fluvastatin was the most effective statin tested in this study and was able to eliminate these amoebae at concentrations of 0.179 ± 0.078 to 1.682 ± 0.775 µM depending on the tested strain of N. fowleri. Therefore, fluvastatin could be a potential novel therapeutic agent against this emerging pathogen.

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“…readily proliferate in freshwater lakes and thermal springs with temperatures >20 °C. In addition to natural bodies, man-made thermally polluted waters, e.g., poorly chlorinated swimming pools – , power plant cooling ponds – , and domestic water supplies , , provide engineered environments favorable for N. fowleri growth. Water distribution pipes are noted to support bacterial growth through biofilm formation on the inner surface of the pipe walls – .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid Detection of Naegleria Fowleri in Water Distribution Pipeline Biofilms and Drinking Water Samples

Puzon

Lancaster

Wylie

et al. 2009

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Rapid detection of pathogenic Naegleria fowler in water distribution networks is critical for water utilities. Current detection methods rely on sampling drinking water followed by culturing and molecular identification of purified strains. This culture-based method takes an extended amount of time (days), detects both nonpathogenic and pathogenic species, and does not account for N. fowleri cells associated with pipe wall biofilms. In this study, a total DNA extraction technique coupled with a real-time PCR method using primers specific for N. fowleri was developed and validated. The method readily detected N. fowleri without preculturing with the lowest detection limit for N. fowleri cells spiked in biofilm being one cell (66% detection rate) and five cells (100% detection rate). For drinking water, the detection limit was five cells (66% detection rate) and 10 cells (100% detection rate). By comparison, culture-based methods were less sensitive for detection of cells spiked into both biofilm (66% detection for <10 cells) and drinking water (0% detection for <10 cells). In mixed cultures of N. fowleri and nonpathogenic Naegleria, the method identified N. fowleri in 100% of all replicates, whereastests with the current consensus primers detected N. fowleri in only 5% of all replicates. Application of the new method to drinking water and pipe wall biofilm samples obtained from a distribution network enabled the detection of N. fowleri in under 6 h, versus 3+ daysforthe culture based method. Further, comparison of the real-time PCR data from the field samples and the standard curves enabled an approximation of N. fowleri cells in the biofilm and drinking water. The use of such a method will further aid water utilities in detecting and managing the persistence of N. fowleri in water distribution networks.

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Amoebic Meningoencephalitis: Sixteen Fatalities

Cited by 80 publications

References 3 publications

The first genotype determination of Acanthamoeba potential threat to human health, isolated from natural water reservoirs in Poland

The first genotype determination of Acanthamoeba potential threat to human health, isolated from natural water reservoirs in Poland

In Vitro Activity of Statins against Naegleria fowleri

Rapid Detection of Naegleria Fowleri in Water Distribution Pipeline Biofilms and Drinking Water Samples

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