| Distribution of potentially pathogenic Naegleria isolates in the environment of Helwan University, Egypt |
| Paper ID : 1054-ISCH |
| Authors |
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Heba M. Koteit *1, Ahmad Zakaria AL-Herrawy2, Shehata El Sebaei Elwoa3 1Assistant lecturer at Faculty of Science - Helwan University 2Water Pollution Researches Department, National Research Centre 3Faculty of Science- Helwan University |
| Abstract |
| Naegleria fowleri are free-living amoeboflagellate amphizoic protozoa that are found in soil, freshwater lakes and rivers, swimming pools, therapeutic pools, tap water, natural thermal water, reservoirs, air samples, and the gills of freshwater fish. They are the cause of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), which is a fulminating and hemorrhagic encephalitis, and humans and other mammals typically come into contact with N. fowleri while swimming, bathing, drinking from, or swimming in water sources where the organism is present. Infections with this organism are typically linked to children and young adults swimming in natural springs or warm-water lakes, as well as when the cyst form is inhaled from dust in arid regions. The trophozoite is the infective form and is the form found in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and in tissues. Death usually follows within 7 to 10 days after infection. The morphologically identified Naegleria species proved to be related to the genus Naegleria when tested by PCR. Statistically, the sampling source had a strong significant correlation with the prevalence of Naegleria. The highest occurrence of Naegleria was recorded in irrigation water samples and soil samples, respectively. While it disappeared in swabs from surfaces, domestic wastewater, tap water and air samples. In conclusion, the low prevalence of Naegleria species in irrigation water and soil does not exert public health hazards to students and workers in Helwan University. |
| Keywords |
| Keywords: Naegleria, Environment, Helwan University, Egypt |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |