A.Obligatory
B.Facultative
C.Intermittent
D.Wandering or aberrant
E.Ectoparasite
F.Heteroxenous
G.Monoxenous
B. Naegleria fowleri is a free-living, facultative parasite.That means it can survive without living on a host but once in contact to a possible host may cause pathogenic effect.
True or false. Several species have been observed as human symbiont without pathological consequence, although some of them may result in severe disease.
True.
2 genera that are known to produce disease in man.
1. naegleria fowleri (an amoeboflagellate)
2. Acanthamoeba castellani - causes amoebic keratitis, and is an occasional cause of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. It is also a facultative parasite of humans responsible for symptoms similar to but less severe than those of Naegleria
What is the shape of the naegleria fowleri?
small, flasked-shape.
What is the passage way of n. fowleri to the human host?
Amoebas are forced into the human nasal passages as a result of swimming, diving or other aquatic activities.
How does n.fowleri infect?
☉Amoeba enters the body through nasal passages,
☉then it burrows to the nasal mucosa,
☉multiplies, and
☉migrates to the brain and surrounding structure.
The disease caused by n. fowleri amoebae.
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) -a rare brain infection that is caused by Naegleria fowleri and is usually fatal.This infection destroys brain tissue, causing severe brain swelling and death in most cases.
N. fowleri habitat.
They can live mostly in moist soils, decaying vegetation and all types of water,especially those containing bacteria.Naegleria fowleri occurs naturally in freshwater bodies, such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs, and in soil.
True or false.N. fowleri can also be found in soil near warm-water discharges of industrial plants and in unchlorinated or minimally- chlorinated swimming pools.
True
True or false. N. fowleri can be seen in either falgellates or temporary amoeboid stage.
False. N. fowleri is an amoeboid but there is a certain stage in its life cycle where it could be a temporary flagellates by having a tail.
What are the 3 forms of the n. fowleri?
1.Trophozoite or the amoeboid form.
2.Flagellate form
3. Resting form or the cyst.
The shape of the cyst of n. fowleri is typically ______.
B. spherical
What is the infectious and reproductive form of the naegleria fowleri?
Trophozoite
True or false. N. fowleri is thermophilic.
True. They can survive heat. Naegleria fowleri grows best at higher temperature up to 115°F (46°C).Although amoebae may not grow well, they can still survive at high temperatures at a short period of time.
Arrange the life cycle of the naegleria fowleri in correct order, according to the CDC.
A. N. fowleri is then acquired through water related activities. B. Cyst develops into trophozoites C. The trophozoites develop a hairlike structure and temporarily will be a flagellate D. Amebae migrate into the brain by the olfactory nerve causing PAM in healthy individuals. E.The trophozoites replicate by promitosis (nuclear membrane remains intact) F.Amebae penetrate the mucosa
Asexual reproduction through simple binary fission.
True or false. Naegleria fowleri does not form cyt in human tissue.
True. A cyst us not found in human tissue, it would be either trophozoite or flagellate form.
How does naegleria fowleri move (motility)?
Through blunt pseudopodia.
Naegleria fowleri develops into a trophozoite and then turns into a flagellate which is a cigar shaped with
(a.how many flagella?)_____ flagella
at the (b.which side of the amoeboid body?)______ end.
a. it has 2 free flagella
b. broader end
Where can you locate n. fowleri in the infected host?
In the (CSF) cerebrospinal fluid.
True or false. Flagellate form can be found in water under 27-37° C
True
What is the non-feeding and non-dividing form of the n. fowleri?
flagellate form
True or false. Flagellate form are present in tissues.
False.Trophozoites are found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and tissue, while flagellated forms are occasionally found in CSF. Cysts are not seen in brain tissue.
True or false. Flagellates can be transformed to amoeboid form.
True.
What happens during an infection of N. fowleri?
1. It attacks the CNS via the olfaction, through the nose.
2. Attaches to the C1 olfactory nerve and heads to the olfactory bulb to fees on the nerve tissue that may cause necrosis and hemorrhaging.
3.Travels further via nerve fibres to cranium floor and into the brain.
4.Consumes the brain cells.
True or false. You cannot be infected with naegleria fowleri by drinking contaminated water.
True. Remember that the route of entry of a n.fowleri is the nose. The mouth on the other hand has lymph organs and saliva that serve as our first line of defense that fight foreign invaders.
True or false. The infection cannot spread from one person to another.
True
True or false. N fowleri can be present in salt water like oceans.
False. They are mostly found in freshwater bodies, such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs, and in soil.
How long does a host usually last once infected by an n. fowleri?
The host usually dies within 1-2 weeks.
Trophozoites of n.fowleri are killed rapidly by ________.
C. Refrigeration.
________ appears to make trophozoites nonviable instantaneously and cyst nonviable in 5 minutes.
D. Drying
Cyst can survive months at cold temperatures above freezing although they may appear to be sensitive to freezing water temperatures. As a result n. fowleri ______ in lake and rivers sediments where cyst offers more protection from freezing water temperatures.
encyst - formation or reproduction of cysts
Diagnosis.
What is the diagnostic tool that is used for n. fowleri infection?
Lumbar function- an analysis of the CSF
Treatment
What are the medications that could be taken to treat (PAM) Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis or the infection that is caused by the naegleria fowleri?
A patient can take a "heroic" dose of Amphotericin B a systematic antifungal.
Miltefosine and Fluconazole, however this medications are not FDA approved.
Testing on phenothiazine Antipsychotic Chlorpromazine.
The survival rate is 2-3%.
Diagnosis
WHat are the symptoms of PAM?
Headache, lethargy, disorientation and comma. Symptoms usually show a few days after swimming in warm still waters. Infections are believed to be introduced through nasal cavity and olfactory bulbs.
Trophozoites can be detected in the spinal fluid but diagnosis is usually at _____.
