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Title: NAEGLERIA FOWLERI-ASSOCIATED ENCEPHALITIS IN A COW FROM COSTA RICA

Author
item MORALES, JUAN - HEREDIA, COSTA RICA
item CHAVES, AIDA - HEREDIA, COSTA RICA
item VISVESVARA, G - CDCP ATLANTA, GA
item Dubey, Jitender

Submitted to: Veterinary Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2006
Publication Date: 6/6/2006
Citation: Morales, J.A., Chaves, A.J., Visvesvara, G.S., Dubey, J.P. 2006. Naegleria fowleri-associated encephalitis in a cow from costa rica. Veterinary Parasitology. 139:221-223.

Interpretive Summary: Species of the protozoa Naegleria, Acanthameba, and Balamuthia are soil amoebae that can cause encephalitis in animals and humans. Of these, Naegleria fowleri is the cause of often fatal primary meningoencephalitis in humans (PAM). Most cases of PAM in humans are fatal. N. fowleri-associated encephalitis was diagnosed in a cow that was suspected to have rabies.PAM is a newly recognized disease of cattle in the united States. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and CDC, Atlanta report the first case of PAM from Costa Rica. These findings will be of interest to parasitologists, biologists, and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: Species of Naegleria, Acanthameba, and Balamuthia are soil amoebae that can cause encephalitis in animals and humans. Of these, Naegleria fowleri is the cause of often fatal primary meningoencephalitis in humans. N. fowleri-associated encephalitis was diagnosed in a cow that was suspected to have rabies. Only formalin-fixed brain was available for diagnosis. There was severe meningoencephalitis involving all parts of the brain and numerous amoebic trophozoites were present in lesions. The amoebae reacted with N. foweleri-specific monoclonal antibodies in an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. This is the first report amoebic encephalitis in any host from Costa Rica.