Pathogenesis
from: Brain-eating Amoebae: Biology and Pathogenesis of Naegleria fowleri (Author: Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Ibne Karim M. Ali, Jennifer R. Cope and Naveed Ahmed Khan ). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2016) Pages: 63-82.
Abstract
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis usually occurs after the inhalation of water containing amoebae or flagellates. It also has been suggested that inhaling cysts, during dusts storms, for example, could lead to infection. Amoeba penetrate the nasal mucosa and the cribiform plate and travel along the olfactory nerves to the brain. Amoebae first invade the olfactory bulbs and then spread to the more posterior regions of the brain. Within the brain they provoke inflammation and cause extensive damage to the tissue. In view of the devastating nature of N. fowleri infection and the problems associated with successful prognosis, here we describe current understanding of the pathogenesis of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, as well as factors that affect virulence of N. fowleri, with an eye to identify potential therapeutic targets read more ...
