PATHOGENESIS OF PATHOGENIC NAEGLERIA AMEBA

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (3) , 195-+
Abstract
In [human] brain sections of Naeleria-caused primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, extensive demyelinization was found in the white matter, besides severe histopathological changes and large clusters of trophozoites in the grey matter. The myelinoclasis appeared to be a result of a specific phospholipolytic effect, unlike that in post-viral encephalomyelitis, which has been attributed to vascular blockade or hemorrhages. In monkey kidney cell cultures a very early cytopathic effect was observed and tracted to the cytolytic property of the seeding culture fluid. Rat brain slices inoculated with Naegleria culture exhibited amoebic growth and demyelinization in 28-52 h incubation at 35.degree. C. In a chemically defined medium containing sphingomyelin, casein and glucose, the Naegleria produced a limited growth parallelling the clearance of the lipid turbidity during a 72 h incubation of 35.degree. C. Chromatographic analysis of the turbidity-cleared cultures revealed decomposition of sphingomyelin with liberation of choline, sphingosine and fatty acids. The pathogenicity of cytopathic effect of pathogenic Naegleria can be attributed to the parasite''s capacity to liberate a phospholipolytic enzyme or factor during active growth, which makes holes in the lipid-rich cytoplasmic membrane of cells and which demyelinizes nerve tissue.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: