Morphology, life cycle, diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment.

1. Naegleria
fowleri
Prepared by: Veronica Baje

2. Naegleria
fowleri
• Naegleria fowleri, colloquially known as the
"brain-eating amoeba", is a species of the
genus Naegleria, belonging to the phylum
Percolozoa, which is technically not classified
as true amoeba, but a shapeshifting
amoeboflagellate excavata.

3. Ameboid
Trophozoites
• Elongate, measuring from 8 to 22μm in length.
• Anterior end is usually broad, posterior end is usually
tapered.
• The slug-like motility is accomplished by blunt
pseudopodia.
• The single nucleus contains a large karyosome that is
generally centrally located.

4. Flagellate Forms
• Pear-shaped flagellate form.
• Measures 7 to 15μm in size.
• Two whip-like structures that assist
select parasites in locomotion known as
flagella.

5. Cysts
• Measures 9 to 12μm in size.
• Generally round and have thick cell walls.
• Similar to both corresponding
trophozoite stages.
• Has only one nucleus, consisting of a
large, centrally located karyosome.

6. Life Cycle
• N. fowleri occurs in three forms – as a cyst, a
trophozoite (ameboid), and a biflagellate (it has
two flagella).
• It does not form a cyst in human tissue, where
only the amoeboid trophozoite stage exists.
• The flagellate form can exist in the cerebrospinal
fluid.

7. Clinical
Symptoms
• Asymptomatic: Patients who contract N.
fowleri resulting in colonization of the nasal
passages are usually asymptomatic.
• Primary amebic meningoencephalitis: Primary
amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) occurs
when the ameboid trophozoites of N. fowleri
invade the brain, causing rapid tissue
destruction.

8. Laboratory
Diagnosis
• Preparing and scanning saline and iodine wet
preparations of the CSF are recommended.

9. Treatment
• There are no effective medications to treat
meningitis and amebic infections.
• There is proof however, that prompt and
aggressive treatment with amphotericin B
may be of benefit to patients suffering from
infections with