Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis: a new case from Venezuela

Abstract

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is not often seen. To date, less than 300 cases have been communicated to the medical literature since the disease was first discovered in 1965. Six of these reports originated in Venezuela. The authors describe a new spontaneous case of PAM in a 33-year-old previously healthy Western-Venezuelan man.

Importance of Nonenteric Protozoan Infections in Immunocompromised People

“…Naegleria fowleri is recognized as the cause of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), an often fatal disease. Naegleria infections are obtained exclusively through contact with contaminated bodies of water (29,33,48,60,89), presumably when the water enters the nasal cavity (117). The protozoa then invade the central nervous system via the olfactory nerve (60).…”

“…The progression of PAM is rapid, with death often occurring within a week after the onset of symptoms (29,89). Survival from PAM is rare, with only 7 reports of survival out of approximately 300 cases reported prior to 2002 (295).…”

“…Survival from PAM is rare, with only 7 reports of survival out of approximately 300 cases reported prior to 2002 (295). Naegleria fowleri rapidly destroys the tissues of the CNS, leading to various neurological disturbances, including taste and olfactory impairments, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, headache, dizziness, confusion, and, finally, coma and death (29,89).…”

Distribution systems as reservoirs of Naegleria fowleri and other amoebae

“…Although N. fowleri-caused infections are extraordinarily rarefewer than 300 confirmed cases had been recorded as of 2008 (Caruzo & Cardozo, 2008)-they are also extraordinarily lethal, with an in-hospital case fatality rate of approximately 97% (Laseke et al, 2010;Blair et al, 2008;Caruzo & Cardozo, 2008;Visvesvara et al, 2007;Marciano-Cabral et al, 2003). Although N. fowleri-caused infections are extraordinarily rarefewer than 300 confirmed cases had been recorded as of 2008 (Caruzo & Cardozo, 2008)-they are also extraordinarily lethal, with an in-hospital case fatality rate of approximately 97% (Laseke et al, 2010;Blair et al, 2008;Caruzo & Cardozo, 2008;Visvesvara et al, 2007;Marciano-Cabral et al, 2003).…”

“…The genus Naegleria includes more than 30 species of freeliving amoebae that are extensively distributed in soil and freshwater environments (CDC, 2010;Laseke et al, 2010;Jamerson et al, 2009;Blair et al, 2008;Caruzo & Cardozo, 2008;Visvesvara et al, 2007;Marciano-Cabral et al, 2003;Marciano-Cabral, 1988;John, 1982). Naegleria fowleri is the only species of this genus known to be pathogenic to humans (Visvesvara et al, 2007;Marciano-Cabral, 1988).…”