Free-living Amoebae

There are 3 different species:

1. Naegleria species

2. Acanthamoeba species

3.  Balamuthia species

 

There are located in the soil and in contaminated lakes, streams and other water environments.

Most human infections occur during warm summer months by people who were exposed to the organisms. 

 

Clinical Syndromes

 Naegleria, Balamuthia and Acanthamoeba are opportunistic pathogens (an infectious organism that does not harm its host only if the host's resistance is low). Symptoms of infection include, intense frontal headache, sore throat, fever, blocked nose, stiff neck and Kernig's sign (inflammation of the meninges). 

The advancement of this disease os rapid, and victims usually die within 4 to 5 days after being affected.

Acanthamoeba also causes eye trauma. It occurs before contact with contaminated soil, dust or water.

 

Treatment, Prevention and Control

 

The treatment of this free-living amoebic infection is ineffective. 

It is hard to contain this disease as there is a wide distribution of these organisms in fresh and brackish waters. Swimming pools with cracks in the walls, allowing soil seepage should be repaired to avoid creation of a source of infection.

 

 

 

 

We do not take credit for any of the information found in this website. All the information is obtained from various forms of literature.

Parasite is defined as an organism that derives its nutrients from another living organism, the host. Parasitic diseases are usually referred to those caused by protozoa, helminths and arthropods which love at the expense of their host. Successful parasites are the ones who are able to maintain their own life processes without killing their host.

Several ways to distinguish parasites infection and bacteria/viruses infection:

  1. Parasites have a complex life cycle that involves the formation of resistant cyst in the organism. (it can usually survive for long periods outside the host.)
  2. Life cycle might involve an insect vector (carrier) that is important for the transmission of disease. In most cases, it is impossible to eliminate the vector effectively.
  3. Some parasites are capable of infecting both humans and animals, thus both can act as reservoirs for the infection. This is true for most protozal infections carried by insects.
  4. Many parasites has life cycle that requires enough time to allow for the various stages to mature, either in soil or in an insect or host.