This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Huizinga, H W Articles by McLaughlin, G L Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Huizinga, H W Articles by McLaughlin, G L Agricola Articles by Huizinga, H W Articles by McLaughlin, G L

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1990 July; 56(7): 2200-2205

Thermal ecology of Naegleria fowleri from a power plant cooling reservoir.

Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal 61761.

ABSTRACT

The pathogenic, free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri is the causative agent of human primary amebic meningoencephalitis. N. fowleri has been isolated from thermally elevated aquatic environments worldwide, but temperature factors associated with occurrence of the amoeba remain undefined. In this study, a newly created cooling reservoir (Clinton Lake, Illinois) was surveyed for Naegleria spp. before and after thermal additions from a nuclear power plant. Water and sediment samples were collected from heated and unheated arms of the reservoir and analyzed for the presence of thermophilic Naegleria spp. and pathogenic N. fowleri. Amoebae were identified by morphology, in vitro cultivation, temperature tolerance, mouse pathogenicity assay, and DNA restriction fragment length analysis. N. fowleri was isolated from the thermally elevated arm but not from the ambient-temperature arm of the reservoir. The probability of isolating thermophilic Naegleria and pathogenic N. fowleri increased significantly with temperature. Repetitive DNA restriction fragment profiles of the N. fowleri Clinton Lake isolates and a known N. fowleri strain of human origin were homogeneous.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Pelandakis, M., Pernin, P. (2002). Use of Multiplex PCR and PCR Restriction Enzyme Analysis for Detection and Exploration of the Variability in the Free-Living Amoeba Naegleria in the Environment. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68: 2061-2065 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Pernin, P., Pélandakis, M., Rouby, Y., Faure, A., Siclet, F. (1998). Comparative Recoveries of Naegleria fowleri Amoebae from Seeded River Water by Filtration and Centrifugation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64: 955-959 [Abstract] [Full Text]