Article Review: Parasitic Infection of Naegleria Fowleri (Symptoms, Histological Changes on Brain Tissue, Prevention and Treatment)

The small, single-celled creatures known as free-living amoebas do best in freshwater environments. Of the four primary forms that can infect humans, Acanthamoeba species and N. fowleri (Naegleria) are the most troublesome. In order to produce primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), They are capable of infiltrating the body by the nose then go to the brain, Later they begin to necrotise tissue and induce cerebral oedema. Infections have been connected to breathing in polluted dust, and Naegleria can also live in soil by developing latent "cysts.". Even though there have only been 381 cases of PAM documented throughout the medical literature until 2018, it is incredibly deadly—just seven people out of the 381 cases survived. Because of the low level of medical awareness and the fact that the symptoms resemble bacterial and viral meningitis, which can manifest in certain regions where Naegleria flourishes, it is also possible that many cases go unreported.

Hot and humid regions of the world record occasional occurrences each year, which are often fatal. Clusters of infections have also been observed connected to tainted water sources, these diseases typically occur in persons who have been swimming in non- chlorinated lakes, rivers, or pools. Although N. fowleri (Naegleria) infections are now uncommon, scientists are worried that as a result of climate change, these and other harmful amoebas may spread their ranges closer to the poles, exposing more people to contaminated water (Linda Geedes , 2024).

A disease-causing flagellate amoeba that is thermophilic and non-parasitic is Naegleria fowleri. Typically found in warm freshwater areas, N. fowleri can withstand temperatures as high as 45% and mostly feeds on bacteria. The trophozoite stage, which is also its reproductive phase, is the most contagious stage. It needs favorable conditions to manifest in this stage.. When water tainted with N. Fowleri is forcefully absorbed during aquatic activities such as swimming and ablution, it enters the body mostly through the olfactory pathway ( Jahangeer et al . , 2020) .

"Brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri is the etiological organism of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare yet lethal infection.. Over the past few decades, the number of confirmed PAM cases has increased along with their geographic distribution. The clinical prognosis for PAM is still dire, with a mortality rate exceeding 95%, and there is currently no viable treatment. It is yet unknown how the immune response affects the severity and prevention of disease (Moseman and Ching, 2022 ).