Naegleria fowleri
Naegleria fowleri
Naegleria fowleri (pronounced: nay-gleer-ee-uh fowl-er-eye), also known as the "brain-eating amoeba", is a species of the genus Naegleria, belonging to the phylum Percolozoa. It is a free-living, thermophilic excavate form of protist typically found in warm bodies of fresh water, such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and hot springs.
Etymology
The name Naegleria fowleri is derived from the name of the Austrian zoologist, Dr. Matthias Naegler, who first identified the genus, and Dr. Fowler, who discovered the species.
Description
Naegleria fowleri is a single-celled organism that can cause a rare and devastating infection of the brain called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). The amoeba is commonly found in warm freshwater and soil. It usually infects people when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. Once the amoeba enters the nose, it travels to the brain where it causes PAM.
Related Terms
- Amoeba: A type of cell or organism which has the ability to alter its shape, primarily by extending and retracting pseudopods.
- Meningoencephalitis: An inflammation of the brain and its surrounding meninges.
- Protist: Any of a diverse group of eukaryotes, of the kingdom Protista, that are primarily unicellular, existing singly or aggregating into colonies.
- Thermophile: An organism—a type of extremophile—that thrives at relatively high temperatures.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Naegleria fowleri
- Wikipedia's article - Naegleria fowleri
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