Isolation of pathogenic Naegleria from artificially heated waters

Investigations were undertaken to determine whether heated waters facilitate the proliferation of free-living amoeba that cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. Water samples were taken close to the discharges of power plants situated on lakes or rivers in Florida and Texas and from cooling towers in Tennessee. The water temperatures ranged from 29 to 42/sup 0/C. Water samples were also taken from several lakes in Florida and Texas without associated power plants. The water temperatures of these ranged from 30/sup 0/ to 34/sup 0/C. Twenty-five-250-ml samples were filtered through membranes. Samples taken from the control lakes and cooling towers showed no growth of pathogenic amoeba, whereas growth was obtained from 2 of the 8 lakes and rivers in Florida and from 1 of the 7 man-made lakes in Texas that were artificially heated. The amoebae were identified as belonging to the genus Naegleria from their trophozoite and cyst structure, ability to grow at 45/sup 0/C, to transform into flagellates, and to produce primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAME) in mice after intranasal instillation. Their identification as N. fowleri was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescent analysis with antiserum produced against N. fowleri. These findings indicate that artificial heating of waters may facilitate the growth of pathogenicmore » free living amoeba.« less