OrganismNaegleria fowleri, the brain-eating amoeba, exists throughout the world; Reservoirs of N fowleri include sediments from lakes, rivers, geothermal water, soil, and poorly maintained swimming pools. These microbes can live at temperatures up to 45 degrees Celsius and do not need a host cell to survive. Free-living amoeba is the etiologic source of primary amoebic meningeocephalitis (PAM), an acute and fatal disease of the central nervous system with mortality rates greater than 99%. The disease appears quickly and death usually occurs within 7 to 14 days. Treatment of PAM poses a challenge due to rapid disease progression and limited awareness among clinicians. According to the CDC, there are over 30 species of Naegleria, however, N fowleri is exclusively the species recognized as a pathogen in humans. When conditions are favorable, this free-living amoeba can survive outside the host cell. Characteristics and morphology Amoebae of the genus Naegleria are identified in part by their ability to create a temporary flagellate phase once exposed to nutritional deprivation. N fowleri is confirmed to be a typical eukaryotic protist by electron microscopic examination (Patterson et al., 1981). N fowleri has three stages in its cycle. At the amoeboid trophozoite stage, they are infectious and measure 10 to 35 µm long. The trophozoite transforms into a non-feeding flagellate when food sources are limited. The flagellates are mobile and measure 10 to 20 µm in length. The amoeba or flagellate will form a cyst, the dormant stage, if the environment is too cold and not conducive to continued feeding and growth. When the organism is in the cyst stage, it has a single wall and a single core. The cyst measures 7-1... middle of paper ... There are currently no significant N fowleri prevention efforts due to the low number of reported occurrences. However, due to the high mortality rate among patients diagnosed with PAM, research is driven to develop new diagnostics and treatments. Prevention It is essential that the public is informed about PAM disease. Most cases involve children and adolescents who participated in water recreational activities. Although it is extremely rare, people who use sinus rinses have been diagnosed with N fowleri PAM. People who perform nasal rinsing are recommended to use distilled water. Unique fact: humans cannot contract the amoeba from another person or by drinking contaminated water. The amoeba enters your body through the nose, through contaminated water, and travels to the brain through the nerves that transmit smell..