Development of a rapid DNA extraction method and one-step nested PCR for the detection of Naegleria fowleri from the environment.

Authors: Ahmad AF Lonnen J Andrew PW Kilvington S
Address: Department of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Leicester, Medical Sciences Building, PO Box 138, University Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK.
Journal:

Publication:

abstract

Naegleria fowleri is a small free-living amoebo-flagellate found in natural and manmade thermal aquatic habitats worldwide. The organism is pathogenic to man causing fatal primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Infection typically results from bathing in contaminated water and is usually fatal. It is, therefore, important to identify sites containing N. fowleri in the interests of preventive public health microbiology. Culture of environmental material is the conventional method for the isolation of N. fowleri but requires several days incubation and subsequent biochemical or molecular tests to confirm identification. Here, a nested one-step PCR test, in conjunction with a direct DNA extraction from water or sediment material, was developed for the rapid and reliable detection of N. fowleri from the environment. Here, the assay detected N, fowleri in 18/109 river water samples associated with a nuclear power plant in South West France and 0/10 from a similar site in the UK. Although culture of samples yielded numerous thermophilic free-living amoebae, none were N. fowleri or other thermophilic Naegleria spp. The availability of a rapid, reliable and sensitive one-step nested PCR method for the direct detection of N. fowleri from the environment may aid ecological studies and enable intervention to prevent PAM cases.

Related Articles
Identification and epidemiological typing of Naegleria fowleri with DNA probes.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 1995
Identification and epidemiological typing of Naegleria fowleri with DNA probes.
Kilvington S, Beeching J. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1995 Jun; 61(6):2071-8.
Development of a nested PCR assay to detect the pathogenic free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri.
Parasitol Res. 2002
Development of a nested PCR assay to detect the pathogenic free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri.
Réveiller FL, Cabanes PA, Marciano-Cabral F. Parasitol Res. 2002 May; 88(5):443-50.
The identification of Naegleria fowleri from water and soil samples by nested PCR.
Parasitol Res. 2004
The identification of Naegleria fowleri from water and soil samples by nested PCR.
Maclean RC, Richardson DJ, LePardo R, Marciano-Cabral F. Parasitol Res. 2004 Jun; 93(3):211-7.
Review Amphizoic amoebae: pathogenic free-living protozoa; review of the literature and review of cases in Thailand.
J Med Assoc Thai. 2005
Review Amphizoic amoebae: pathogenic free-living protozoa; review of the literature and review of cases in Thailand.
Siripanth C. J Med Assoc Thai. 2005 May; 88(5):701-7.
Review The immune response to Naegleria fowleri amebae and pathogenesis of infection.
FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2007
Review The immune response to Naegleria fowleri amebae and pathogenesis of infection.
Marciano-Cabral F, Cabral GA. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2007 Nov; 51(2):243-59. Epub 2007 Sep 21.

To top • Home

TraveldoctorOnline 2001 • Disclaimer • webmaster

The contents within traveldoctoronline are presented only for informational purposes and cannot substitute for professional health care or any other medical treatment.All users of this website with health problems should be oblige always to consult their medical doctor before starting any treatment.