What Is a Brain-eating Amoeba?

Naegleria fowleri is a free-living ameba that can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but usually fatal disease⁵. It has three stages in its life cycle: cysts, trophozoites, and flagellated forms¹. The trophozoites replicate by promitosis (nuclear membrane remains intact)¹.

Naegleria fowleri is found in fresh water, soil, thermal discharges of power plants, geothermal wells, and poorly chlorinated recreational and tap water¹. It lives in soil and warm fresh water such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs⁴.

In the United States, cases of PAM have been reported during 1978-2018 associated with recreational water exposures⁵.

Source:
(1) Geographic Range of Recreational Water–Associated Primary Amebic .... https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/1/20-2119_article Accessed 3/20/2023.
(2) Pathogen and Environment | Naegleria fowleri | CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/pathogen.html Accessed 3/20/2023.
(3) Naegleria fowleri — Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) — Amebic .... https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/index.html Accessed 3/20/2023.
(4) Naegleria fowleri: Characteristics, Life Cycle and Lab Diagnosis. https://microbeonline.com/naegleria-fowleri-characteristics-pathogenesis-and-lab-diagnosis/ Accessed 3/20/2023.
(5) Naegleria Fowleri Amoeba -Characteristics/Symptoms/Treatment/Infection. https://www.microscopemaster.com/naegleria-fowleri.html Accessed 3/20/2023.