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Naegleria fowleri research at UTMB

  • 1.  Naegleria fowleri research at UTMB

    ASCP Ambassador
    Posted 06-01-2025 21:02

    Hi Everyone, 

    Here is something very interesting from our Texas ASCLS chapter. Read it -- it could be lifesaving!

    Texas Association for Clinical Lab Science (TACLS) had their annual spring meeting in Corpus Christi. Dr. Juan Rojo at UT Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston presented research on seroprevalence of Naegleria fowleri. The talk kept us on the edge of our seats! Here are the highlights:

     

    ·        N. fowleri causes highly-fatal Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM)

    ·        The amoeba is present in natural water, hot springs, soil, and some tap water

    ·        It travels through water from the nose --> olfactory nerve --> cribiform plate --> brain

    ·        The amoeba feeds on brain cells

    ·        Previous thinking: it's contracted through forceful water entry in the nose (water sports/play, nasal irrigation, etc.)

    ·        BUT: their research shows an 89% seropositivity rate in the Houston & Galveston areas

    ·        Seropositivity did not correlate to water activity or other factors studied

    ·        Results suggest a lot of us are exposed routinely by tap water and environmental exposures

     

    The question still remains: how to prevent the disease? Symptoms include severe headache, nausea, and vomiting. Diagnosis and treatment must happen within hours to save the patient. Dr. Rojo mentioned many cases of this might be missed because bacterial or viral meningitis is suspected instead of amebic PAM. They are continuing their studies.

     

    This made me think we need to stay vigilant when looking at CSF, especially in hematology. Heat-fixing in the gram stain procedure destroys the amoeba's morphology.

     

    Here is a link to their study and a podcast about Naegleria:

     

    Seroprevalence of Naegleria fowleri in the Houston–Galveston Texas Population | Parasitology Research

     

    Naegleria Infection and Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

     

    Ep 74 Naegleria fowleri: The "… - This Podcast Will Kill You - Apple Podcasts

     

    Wright stain of CSF (image source CDC Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis for Naegleria fowleri Infection):

    Naegleria fowleri Infection remove preview
    Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis for Naegleria fowleri Infection
    Laboratory tests to identity Naegleria fowleri infection and diagnose PAM
    View this on Naegleria fowleri Infection >

     



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    Heather Parks Technologist/Scientist, non-supervisor (CT,MLS,MT)
    San Antonio TX
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