Real-Time PCR Confirmation of a Fatal Case of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis in Turkey Caused by Naegleria fowleri or Brain-Eating Amoeba       
Yazarlar (4)
Koray Öncel
Mehmet Akif Inan Education And Research Hospital, Türkiye
Leman Karaağaç
Mehmet Akif Inan Education And Research Hospital, Türkiye
Hande Dağcı
Ege Üniversitesi, Türkiye
Doç. Dr. Mehmet AYKUR Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi, Türkiye
Makale Türü Özgün Makale
Makale Alt Türü SSCI, AHCI, SCI, SCI-Exp dergilerinde yayınlanan tam makale
Dergi Adı Acta Parasitologica
Dergi ISSN 1230-2821 Wos Dergi Scopus Dergi
Dergi Tarandığı Indeksler SCI-Expanded
Dergi Grubu Q3
Makale Dili İngilizce
Basım Tarihi 06-2022
Cilt No 67
Sayı 2
Sayfalar 697 / 704
DOI Numarası 10.1007/s11686-021-00514-0
Özet
Background: Naegleria fowleri, the causative agent of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), is a free-living amoeba. It is a water-borne infection usually detected in children and young people with healthy immune system who swim, dive and perform activities in fresh and hot springs. Purpose: In this study, it was aimed to raise awareness in the differential diagnosis of meningitis etiopathogenesis by showing that N. fowleri may also be the causative agent, albeit very rarely, in meningitis cases in Turkey. Methods: Our case was an 18-year-old male patient whose relatives stated that he has gone to the hot spring; his headache complaint started after 2 to 3 days after return from the hot spring. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample taken from the patient was investigated by direct microscopic examination, real-time PCR method and sequence analysis. Results: The CSF sample collected was taken into distilled water considering the possibility of transformation of trophozoites to intermediate form and incubated at 37 °C for 1 to 2 h, and pear-shaped non-permanent flagellated forms were observed in the direct microscopic examination, and molecular typing was performed to confirm the diagnosis. This study was a comprehensive case of N. fowleri whose etiological agent was isolated and confirmed by real-time PCR in Turkey. Conclusion: Clinician awareness would be the key factor in correctly diagnosing PAM. It is also recommended to investigate all likely environmental water sources in Turkey for more detailed information on the distribution and molecular identification of Naegleria species, ultimately to evaluate the potential pathogenic threat to human health and to develop strategies to combat such threats.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Free-living amoeba | Hot spring | Naegleria fowleri | Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis | Real-time PCR