OPPORTUNISTIC

AMOEBA
FACULTATIVE
PARASITES
• Naegleria is an amoeba commonly found in warm freshwater and
soil. Only one species of Naegleria infects people, Naegleria
fowleri. It causes a very rare but severe brain infection. Most
infections are fatal.

• Naegleria fowleri (also known as "the brain-eating amoeba") is a

free-living amoeba typically found in warm fresh water, from 25–35
degrees Celsius (77–95 degrees Fahrenheit) in an amoeboid or
temporary flagellate stage. It belongs to a group called the
Percolozoa or Heterolobosea.

• N. fowleri can invade and attack the human nervous system;

although this occurs rarely, such an infection will nearly always
result in the death of the victim.
 Naegleria Fowleri
Location in host: CNS, CSF
Definitive host: Human
Intermediate host: Not present; direct
transmission By inhalation of trophozoite stage.
Infective stage: Trophozoite stage.
Diagnostic stage: Trophozoite in CSF, or in brain
section of fatal cases.
Disease: Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis.
 Infection
• In humans, N. fowleri can invade the central nervous system via the
nose, more specifically the olfactory mucosa and nasal tissues. The
penetration initially results in significant necrosis of and
hemorrhaging in the olfactory bulbs. From there, amoebae climb
along nerve fibers through the floor of the cranium via the
cribriform plate and into the brain. It then becomes pathogenic,
causing primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM or PAME).

• PAM is a syndrome affecting the central nervous system,

characterized by changes in olfactory perception (taste and smell),
followed by vomiting, nausea, fever, headache, and the rapid onset
of coma and death in two weeks.

• PAM usually occurs in healthy children or young adults with no

prior history of immune compromise who have recently been
exposed to bodies of fresh water.
Life Cycle of Naegleria Fowleri
• Naegleria fowleri, often referred to as simply “naegleria,” exists in
nature in three forms: a flagellate, an amoeba, and a cyst.

• The flagellate stage, a small pear-shaped organism with two long

whip-like flagellae at one end, is very mobile and is probably the
stage that infects people who are exposed through water.

• Within the body, the flagellate converts to an amoeba, a slow

moving single-celled organism that proliferates by dividing
repeatedly.

• Returned to water, and occasionally in human spinal fluid, the

amoeba will once again assume the flagellate form.

• The cyst stage, a tough spherical stage found only in the

environment, forms when conditions are unfavorable for naegleria.
Life Cycle
 Naegleria Fowleri
Trophozoite
Amoeboid Form:

• Free living in warm water.

• Infective stage for human.
• Large kinetoplast.
• No peripheral chromatin
 Where is Naegleria found?
The ameba grows best in warm or hot water. Most commonly, the
ameba may be found in:

• Bodies of warm freshwater, such as lakes, rivers

• Geothermal (naturally hot) water such as hot springs

• Geothermal (naturally hot) drinking water sources

• Warm water discharge from industrial plants

• Poorly maintained and minimally-chlorinated or unchlorinated

swimming pools

• Soil

• Naegleria is not found in salt water locations like the ocean.

 Prevention
The only known way to prevent Naegleria infections is to refrain from
water-related activities. However, some measures that might reduce
risk by limiting the chance of contaminated water going up the nose
include:

• Avoid water-related activities in bodies of warm freshwater, hot

springs, and thermally-polluted water such as water around power
plants.

• Avoid water-related activities in warm freshwater during periods of

high water temperature and low water levels.

• Hold the nose shut or use nose clips when taking part in water-related
activities in bodies of warm freshwater such as lakes, rivers, or hot
springs.

• Avoid digging in or stirring up the sediment while taking part in

water-related activities in shallow, warm freshwater areas.
Naegleria Fowleri
 Summary
Naegleria Fowleri
• Found in freshwater lake or ponds, swimming pools
• Life Cycle:
a) Trophozoite
– Amoeboid form.
– Flagellate form
b) Cyst
• Pathogenesis
– Portal of Entry: olfactory neuroepithelium
– Causes Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis
– Seen in healthy individuals
• Diagnosis
– Amoebas in tissues are present ONLY as trophozoite
– NO cysts seen in tissues.
• Treatment: Amphotericin B
• Prevention:
 Avoid contact with stagnant waters.
 Hyperchlorination not effective.
 Baguacil
Video about Naegleria Fowleri
• Acanthamoeba is a microscopic, free-living ameba commonly found
in the environment that can cause rare but severe illness.
Acanthamoeba causes three main types of illness involving the eye
(keratitis), the brain and spinal cord (Granulomatous Amebic
Encephalitis), and infections that can spread from an entry point to
the entire body (disseminated infection).

• Acanthamoeba is a genus of amoebae, one of the most common

protozoa in soil, and also frequently found in fresh water and other
habitats. The cells are small, usually 15 to 35 μm in length and oval
to triangular in shape when moving. The pseudopods form a clear
hemispherical lobe at the anterior, and there are various short filose
extensions from the margins of the body. These give it a spiny
appearance, which is what the name Acanthamoeba refers to. Cysts
are common. Most species are free-living bacterivores, but some are
opportunists that can cause infections in humans and other animals.
• Acanthamoeba (pronounced ah-canth-ah-me-baa) literally
means spiny amoeba, and that’s exactly what Acanthamoeba
spp. are—single celled amoebae that produce spiny
pseudopodia as they move slowly along. About five times the
size of a human red blood cell, acanthamoebae are large as
microbes go, but still much too small to be seen with the
naked eye. The most common amoebae in fresh water and
soil, Acanthamoeba spp. sometimes cause human infections.

• In water, moist soil, mud, and decaying organic material,

acanthamoebae feed on bacteria and other microscopic
organisms. In water supply systems, these amoebae live in the
biofilm of organisms that proliferate on the inside surfaces of
pipes, grazing on the other organisms in the biofilm. When
the environment gets dry, they wrap themselves up inside a
tough cyst wall and wait for the moisture and the food to
return. They’re resistant to drying, chlorine, and many
antiseptics. They are tough and ubiquitous.
 Life Cycle of Acanthamoeba
• Acanthamoeba has only two stages, cysts and trophozoites , in its life
cycle.

• No flagellated stage exists as part of the life cycle.

• The trophozoites replicate by mitosis (nuclear membrane does not remain

intact) .  The trophozoites are the infective forms, although both cysts and
trophozoites gain entry into the body through various means. 

• Entry can occur through the eye, the nasal passages to the lower respiratory
tract , or ulcerated or broken skin.

• When Acanthamoeba spp. enters the eye it can cause severe keratitis in
otherwise healthy individuals, particularly contact lens users.

• When it enters the respiratory system or through the skin, it can invade the
central nervous system by hematogenous dissemination causing
granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) or disseminated disease, or skin
lesions in individuals with compromised immune systems.

• Acanthamoeba spp. cysts and trophozoites are found in tissue.

Life Cycle
 Symptoms of Infection
• The symptoms of Acanthamoeba keratitis can be very similar to the symptoms of other
more common eye infections. The symptoms, which can last several weeks to months,
are not the same for everybody and might include:

– Eye pain
– Eye redness
– Blurred vision
– Sensitivity to light
– Sensation of something in the eye
– Excessive tearing

• Eye infection with Acanthamoeba has never been known to cause infections in other
parts of the body.

• Acanthamoeba can also cause skin lesions and/or disseminated infection. These
infections usually occur in people with compromised immune systems. Acanthamoeba
can cause a serious, most often deadly, infection of the brain and spinal cord called
Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis (GAE). Once infected, a person may suffer with
headaches, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, tiredness, confusion, lack of attention to
people and surroundings, loss of balance and bodily control, seizures, and
hallucinations. Symptoms progress over several weeks and death usually occurs. Skin
infections do not necessarily lead to disseminated disease.
 Prevention
• Even though acanthamoeba keratitis is much more common than it used to
be, it is still rare even among contact lens wearers. To avoid this devastating
infection:
– Never allow lenses or cases to come in contact with tap water.
– Never swim with contact lenses in, even in a chlorinated swimming
pool.
– Don’t shower with contact lenses in your eyes.
– Never wear contact lenses when your eyes are irritated or if you suspect
you have even a tiny scratch.
– Do not keep lenses or solutions past their expiry date.
– Do not wear lenses for longer periods than your eye professional
recommends.
– Always carefully follow your eye professional’s instructions for
cleaning contact lenses.
– A lens cleaning routine that requires rubbing is preferable to one that
only requires soaking.
• Contact lenses and lens care disinfectants are improving; however, contact
lens wearers still have to be careful. Taking the precautions listed above
should keep this opportunistic amoeba where it belongs—in the
environment.
 Where is Acanthamoeba found?
• Acanthamoeba is found worldwide. Most
commonly, Acanthamoeba is found in the soil and
dust, in fresh water sources such as lakes, rivers,
and hot springs, in brackish water, and in sea
water. Acanthamoeba can also be found in
swimming pools, hot tubs, in drinking water
systems (e.g., slime layers in pipes, taps), as well
as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning
(HVAC) systems and humidifiers.
Acanthamoeba
 Summary
Acanthamoeba
• Most common species: Acanthamoeba culbertsoni
• Found in soil or stagnant waters
 Source of infection: dust or water
 Resistant to chlorine and drying
• Life cycle
a) Trophozoite - no flagellate form
b) Cyst
• Pathogenesis
 Portal of Entry: broken or ulcerated skin/eyes
lungs and GIT
• Disease:
 Chronic Meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised host
 Corneal ulceration
• Treatment: Sulfadiazine
• Prevention: early diagnosis
prompt treatment of lesions
Free-Living Amoebas
 Submitted To:
Dr. Celino

Prepared By:
Elizabeth G. Querubin
Mon Aldrin E. Evangelista
Tricia A. Narido
BSN 2-B
Tuesday 4:30-7:30