illustration of the life cycle of the parasitic agents responsible for causing free living amebic infections Naegleria fowleri
An illustration of the life cycle of the parasitic agents responsible for causing free living amebic infections Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba spp commonly found in lakes swimming pools tap water and heating and air conditioning units Ê While only one species of Naegleria is known to infect humans several species of Acanthamoeba are implicated including A culbertsoni A polyphaga A castellanii A astronyxis A hatchetti and A rhysodes Ê An additional agent of human disease Balamuthia mandrillaris is a related leptomyxid ameba that is morphologically similar in light microscopy to Acanthamoeba Free living amebae belonging to the genera Acanthamoeba Balamuthia and Naegleria are important causes of disease in humans and animals Ê Naegleria fowleri produces an acute and usually lethal central nervous system CNS disease called primary amebic meingoencephalitis PAM Ê N fowleri has three stages cysts trophozoites and flagellated forms in its life cycle Ê The trophozoites replicate by promitosis nuclear membrane remains intact Ê Naegleria fowleri is found in fresh water soil thermal discharges of power plants heated swimming pools hydrotherapy and medicinal pools aquariums and sewage Ê Trophozoites can turn into temporary flagellated forms which usually revert back to the trophozoite stage Ê Trophozoites infect humans or animals by entering the olfactory neuroepithelium and reaching the brain Ê N fowleri trophozoites are found in cerebrospinal fluid CSF and tissue while flagellated forms are occasionally found in CSF Acanthamoeba spp and Balamuthia mandrillaris are opportunistic free living amebae capable of causing granulomatous amebic encephalitis GAE in individuals with compromised immune systems Ê Acanthamoeba spp have been found in soil fresh brackish and sea water sewage swimming pools contact lens equipment medicinal pools dental treatment units dialysis machines heating ventilating and air
Size: 4725px × 3600px
Photo credit: © Scott Camazine / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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