Survey for the presence of specific free-living amoebae in cooling waters from Belgian power plants

Behets, Jonas; Declerck, Priscilla; Delaedt, Yasmine; Verelst, Lieve; Ollevier, Frans

doi:10.1007/s00436-006-0399-1

Cited by 47 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Other studies have indicated that N. fowleri is present in lakes in Florida, Georgia, Texas, South Carolina, Illinois, and Virginia in the United States, as well as in other countries (Behets et al 2007;Huizinga and McLaughlin 1990;MacLean et al 2004;Stevens et al 1977;Sykora et al 1983;Tyndall et al 1989;Wellings et al 1997). In addition, fatalities due to PAM have occurred in healthy children and young adults who swam in fresh water lakes in Virginia (Martinez 1985).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survey for the presence of Naegleria fowleri Amebae in lake water used to cool reactors at a nuclear power generating plant

et al. 2008

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Water from Lake Anna in Virginia, a lake that is used to cool reactors at a nuclear power plant and for recreational activities, was assessed for the presence of Naegleria fowleri, an ameba that causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). This survey was undertaken because it has been reported that thermally enriched water fosters the propagation of N. fowleri and, hence, increases the risk of infection to humans. Of 16 sites sampled during the summer of 2007, nine were found to be positive for N. fowleri by a nested polymerase chain reaction assay. However, total ameba counts, inclusive of N. fowleri, never exceeded 12/50 mL of lake water at any site. No correlation was obtained between the conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and pH of water and presence of N. fowleri. To date, cases of PAM have not been reported from this thermally enriched lake. It is postulated that predation by other protozoa and invertebrates, disturbance of the water surface from recreational boating activities, or the presence of bacterial or fungal toxins, maintain the number N. fowleri at a low level in Lake Anna.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survey for the presence of Naegleria fowleri Amebae in lake water used to cool reactors at a nuclear power generating plant

et al. 2008

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“…The water samples were filtered through a cellulose nitrate filter (pore size, 1.2 μm; diameter, 47 mm, Millipore (Fisher Scientific)) (Behets et al 2007;Edagawa et al 2009), and the concentration of amoebae determined following the most probable number (MPN) method (Pernin et al 1998). When 11 L was collected, 1 L and 100 mL were filtered 10 times for each volume; for the 2 L Matouba samples, 100 and 10 mL were filtered 10 times.…”

Section: Isolation Of Amoebaementioning

confidence: 99%

Soil is the origin for the presence of Naegleria fowleri in the thermal recreational waters

et al. 2014

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Naegleria fowleri is found in most geothermal baths of Guadeloupe and has been responsible for the death of a 9-year-old boy who swam in one of these baths in 2008. We wanted to determine the origin for the presence of this amoeba in the water. Water samples were taken at the origin of the geothermal sources and at the arrival in the baths. After filtration, cultures were made and the number of Naegleria present was determined using the most probable number method. Soil samples collected in the proximity of the baths were also tested for the presence of thermophilic amoebae. The species identification was obtained by PCR. During three consecutive months, no Naegleria could be found at the origin of any geothermal source tested. In contrast, N. fowleri was isolated at least once in all baths at the arrival of the water, except one. Thermophilic amoebae could be found in each soil sample, especially near the baths located at a lower altitude, but N. fowleri was only isolated near two baths, which were also the baths most often contaminated with this species. So it appears that the contamination of the water with N. fowleri occurs after emerging from the geothermal source when the water runs over the soil. Therefore, it should be possible to reduce the concentration of N. fowleri in the geothermal baths of Guadeloupe to for example less than 1 N. fowleri/10 L by installing a pipeline between the geothermal sources and the baths and by preventing flooding water from entering the baths after rainfall. By taking these measures, we were able to eliminate N. fowleri from a pool located inside a reeducation clinic.

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“…Naegleria species are ubiquitous in wet environments and have recently been identified in domestic water sources (378), cooling waters from power plants (37), and well water (48). Several novel Naegleria spp.…”

Section: Naegleria Fowlerimentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of Nonenteric Protozoan Infections in Immunocompromised People

et al. 2010

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SUMMARY There are many neglected nonenteric protozoa able to cause serious morbidity and mortality in humans, particularly in the developing world. Diseases caused by certain protozoa are often more severe in the presence of HIV. While information regarding neglected tropical diseases caused by trypanosomatids and Plasmodium is abundant, these protozoa are often not a first consideration in Western countries where they are not endemic. As such, diagnostics may not be available in these regions. Due to global travel and immigration, this has become an increasing problem. Inversely, in certain parts of the world (particularly sub-Saharan Africa), the HIV problem is so severe that diseases like microsporidiosis and toxoplasmosis are common. In Western countries, due to the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), these diseases are infrequently encountered. While free-living amoebae are rarely encountered in a clinical setting, when infections do occur, they are often fatal. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are essential to the survival of patients infected with these organisms. This paper reviews information on the diagnosis and treatment of nonenteric protozoal diseases in immunocompromised people, with a focus on patients infected with HIV. The nonenteric microsporidia, some trypanosomatids, Toxoplasma spp., Neospora spp., some free-living amoebae, Plasmodium spp., and Babesia spp. are discussed.

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Survey for the presence of specific free-living amoebae in cooling waters from Belgian power plants

Cited by 47 publications

References 26 publications

Survey for the presence of Naegleria fowleri Amebae in lake water used to cool reactors at a nuclear power generating plant

Survey for the presence of Naegleria fowleri Amebae in lake water used to cool reactors at a nuclear power generating plant

Soil is the origin for the presence of Naegleria fowleri in the thermal recreational waters

Importance of Nonenteric Protozoan Infections in Immunocompromised People

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