Immune response to Naegleria fowleri amebae and pathogenesis of infection
The genus Naegleria consists of a group of free-living ameboflagellates (FLA) found in diverse habitats through- out the world. Naegleria spp. have been isolated from freshwater lakes, ponds, domestic water supplies, swimming pools, thermal pools, soil, and dust (Marciano-Cabral, 1988; Rodriguez-Zaragoza, 1994; Szenasi et al., 1998). Although over 30 species of Naegleria have been isolated from environmental sources, only Naegleria fowleri has been isolated from humans. Naegleria fowleri causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rapidly fatal disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that occurs more often in children and young adults with a history of swimming and diving in freshwater.