Identification of the Naegleria Species in Natural Watersheds Used for Drinking and Recreational Purposes in Taiwan
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 8
Abstract
Naegleria species (spp.) is a free-living amoeboflagellate that is widespread in natural environments. Some Naegleria spp. cause fatal human infections, and the most important source of these infections is water. This genus is recognized as a potential human pathogen that causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. In this study, 211 water samples were collected from two watersheds in Taiwan. The Naegleria spp. on the basis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with a genus-specific primer pair and an investigation of Naegleria spp. in the Puzih Rivers and Kaoping Rivers in Taiwan. The percentage of positive samples obtained from the Kaoping River (21.8%) was higher than that from the Puzih River (0.6%). The presence/absence of Naegleria spp. within the water samples showed a significant difference with levels of water temperature and pH value. The most frequently identified Naegleria spp. was N. philippinensis (), followed by N. clarki (), N. gallica (), and N. americana (). N. australiensis, N. dobsoni, N. gruberi, and N. schusteri were each detected once. The presence of Naegleria spp. should be considered a potential public health threat; therefore, regularly maintaining normally operated water treatment facilities and implementing effective management strategies are critical for protecting public health.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by a research grant from National Science Council of Taiwan, ROC (NSC 97-2628-M-194-001-MY3).
References
American Public Health Association (APHA). (1998). Standard method for the examination of water and wastewater, 20th Ed., APHA, Water Environment Federation (WEF), American Water Works Association (AWWA), Washington, DC.
Apley, J., et al. (1970). “Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in Britain.” Br. Med. J.BMJOAE, 1(5696), 596–599.
Behets, J., Declerck, P., Delaedt, Y., Verelst, L., and Ollevier, F. (2006). “Survey for the presence of specific free-living amoebae in cooling waters from Belgian power plants.” Parasitol. Res.PARREZ, 100(6), 1249–1256.
Caruzo, G., and Cardozo, J. (2008). “Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis: A new case from Venezuela.” Trop. DoctorTPDCAV, 38(4), 256–257.
Crespo, E. P., Mallen, M. M., Monica, M. P., Ares, P., Fernandez, M. C. A., and Combarro, M. P. C. (1990). “Isolation of amoebae of the genera Naegleria and Acanthamoeba from public fountains in Galicia (N.W. Spain).” Water Air Soil Pollut.WAPLAC, 53(1–2), 103–111.
De Jonckheere, J. F. (1979). “Occurrence of Naegleria and Acanthamoeba in aquaria.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol.AEMIDF, 38(4), 590–593.
De Jonckheere, J. F. (2002). “A century of research on the amoeboflagellate genus Naegleria.” Acta Protozool.ACPZAU, 41(4), 309–342.
De Jonckheere, J. F. (2004). “Molecular definition and the ubiquity of species in the genus Naegleria.” ProtistologicaPROTB6, 155(1), 89–103.
De Jonckheere, J. F. (2006). “Isolation and molecular identification of free-living amoebae of the genus Naegleria from Arctic and sub-Antarctic regions.” Eur. J. Protistol.EJPREZ, 42(2), 115–123.
De Jonckheere, J. F. (2011). “Origin and evolution of the worldwide distributed pathogenic amoeboflagellate Naegleria fowleri.” Infect. Genet. Evol., 11(7), 1520–1528.
Edagawa, A., Kimura, A., Kawabuchi-Kurata, T., Kusuhara, Y., and Karanis, P. (2009). “Isolation and genotyping of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba and Naegleria species from tap-water sources in Osaka, Japan.” Parasitol. Res.PARREZ, 105(4), 1109–1117.
Eke, R., Chigbu, L. N., and Enwereji, E. (2006). “Unfamiliarity of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in developing countries.” Eur. J. Gen. Med., 3(4), 190–192.
Gupta, N., Bhaskar, H., Duggal, S., Ghalaut, P. S., Kundra, S., and Arora, D. R. (2009). “Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis: First reported case from Rohtak, North India.” Braz. J. Infect. Dis.BJIDAN, 13(3), 236–237.
Guzman-Fierros, E., De Jonckheere, J. F., and Lares-Villa, F. (2008). “Identification of Naegleria species in recreational areas in Hornos, Sonora.” Rev. Mex. Biodiv., 79(1), 1–5.
Hsu, B. M., Lin, C. L., and Shih, F. C. (2009). “Survey of pathogenic free-living amoebae and Legionella spp. in mud spring recreation area.” Water Res.WATRAG, 43(11), 2817–2828.
Hsu, B. M., Ma, P. H., Liou, T. S., Chen, J. S., and Shih, F. C. (2009a). “Identification of 18S ribosomal DNA genotype of Acanthamoeba from hot spring recreation areas in the central range, Taiwan.” J. Hydrol.JHYDA7, 367(3–4), 249–254.
Huang, S. W., and Hsu, B. M. (2010a). “Survey of Naegleria and its resisting bacteria-Legionella in hot spring water of Taiwan using molecular method.” Parasitol. Res.PARREZ, 106(6), 1395–1402.
Huang, S. W., and Hsu, B. M. (2010b). “Isolation and identification of Acanthamoeba from Taiwan spring recreation areas using culture enrichment combined with PCR.” Acta tropicaACTRAQ, 115(3), 282–287.
Jamerson, M., Remmers, K., Cabral, G., and Marciano-Cabral, F. (2008). “Survey for the presence of Naegleria fowleri Amebae in lake water used to cool reactors at a nuclear power generating plant.” Parasitol. Res.PARREZ, 104(5), 969–978.
Jariya, P., Makeo, S., Jaroonvesama, N., Kunara-tanapruk, S., Lawhanuwat, C., and Pongchaikul, P. (1983). “Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis: A first reported case in Thailand.” Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Publ. HealthSJTMAK, 14(4), 525–527.
Lares-Villa, F., et al. (1993). “Five cases of primary amebic meningoencephalitis in Mexicali, Mexico: Study of the isolates.” J. Clin. Microbiol.JCMIDW, 31(3), 685–688.
Lares-Villa, F., and Hernández-Peña, C. (2010). “Concentration of Naegleria fowleri in natural waters used for recreational purposes in Sonora, Mexico (November 2007–October 2008).” Exp. Parasitol.EXPAAA, 126(1), 33–36.
Lee, S. H., Levy, D. A., Craun, G. F., Beach, M. J., and Calderon, R. L. (2002). “Surveillance for waterborne-disease outbreaks—United States, 1999–2000.” Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. Surveill. Summ., 51(8), 1–47.
Maclean, R., Richardson, D., LePardo, R., and Marciano-Cabral, F. (2004). “The identification of Naegleria fowlerifrom water and soil samples by nested PCR.” Parasitol. Res.PARREZ, 93(3), 211–217.
Maďarová, L., Trnková, K., Feiková, S., Klement, C., Obernauerová, M. (2010). “A real-time PCR diagnostic method for detection of Naegleria fowleri.” Exp. Parasitol.EXPAAA, 126(1), 37–41.
Marciano-Cabral, F. (1988). “Biology of Naegleria spp.” Microbiol. Rev.MBRED3, 52(1), 114–133.
Marciano-Cabral, F. (2009). “Free-living amoebae as agents of human infection.” J. Infect. Dis.JIDIAQ, 199(8), 1104–1106.
Miller, G., Cullity, G., Walpole, I., O’Connor, J., and Masters, P. (1982). “Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in Western Australia.” Med. J. Aust.MJAUAJ, 1(8), 352–357.
Réveiller, F. L., Cabanes, P.-A., and Marciano-Cabral, F. (2002). “Development of a nested PCR assay to detect the pathogenic free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri.” Parasitol. Res.PARREZ, 88(5), 443–450.
Robinson, B. S., Monis, P. T., and Dobson, P. J. (2006). “Rapid, sensitive, and discriminating identification of Naegleria spp. by real-Time PCR and melting-curve analysis.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol.AEMIDF, 72(9), 5857–5863.
Schuster, F. L., and Visvesvara, G. S. (2004). “Free-living amoebae as opportunistic and nonopportunistic pathogens of humans and animals.” Int. J. Parasitol.IJPYBT, 34(9), 1001–1027.
Shamsizadeh, A., Zaker, N., Maraghi, S., and Momen, A. A. (2006). “Primary amebic meningoencephalitis.” Pak. J. Med. Sci., 22(4), 471–473.
Sheehan, K. B., Fagg, J. A., Ferris, M. J., and Henson, J. M. (2003). “PCR detection and analysis of the free-living amoeba Naegleria in hot springs in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol.AEMIDF, 69(10), 5914–5918.
Sugita, Y., et al. (1999). “Primary amebic meningoencephalitis due to Naegleria fowleri: An autopsy case in Japan.” Pathol. Int.PITEES, 49(5), 468–470.
Sykora, J. L., Keleti, G., and Julio Martinez, A. (1983). “Occurrence and pathogenicity of Naegleria fowleri in artificially heated waters.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol.AEMIDF, 45(3), 974–979.
Symmers, W. S. C., and Senior, M. D. (1969). “Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in Britain.” Br. Med. J.BMJOAE, 4(5681), 449–454.
Tamura, K., Dudley, J., Nei, M., and Kumar, S. (2007). “MEGA4: Molecular evolutionary genetics analysis (MEGA) software version 4.0.” Mol. Biol. Evol.MBEVEO, 24(8), 1596–1599.
Thomas, V., Loret, J. F., Jousset, M., and Greub, G. (2008). “Biodiversity of amoebae and amoebae-resisting bacteria in a drinking water treatment plant.” Environ. Microbiol.ENMIFM, 10(10), 2728–2745.
Tiewchaloren, S., and Junnu, V. (1999). “Factors affecting the viability of pathogenic Naegleria species isolated from Thai patients.” J. Trop. Med. Parasitol., 22(1), 15–21.
Visvesvara, G., and Schuster, F. (2008a). “Opportunistic free-living amebae, Part I.” Clin. microbiol. NewsletterCMNEEJ, 30(20), 151–158.
Visvesvara, G., and Schuster, F. (2008b). “Opportunistic free-living amebae, Part II.” Clin. Microbiol. NewsletterCMNEEJ, 30(21), 159–166.
Wang, A., Kay, R., Poonb, W. S., and Ng, H. K. (1993). “Successful treatment of amoebic meningoencephalitis in a Chinese living in Hong Kong.” Clinical neurology and neurosurgeryCNNSBV, 95(3), 249–252.
Wannasan, A., Chaiwong, P., Bunchoo, M., and Morakote, N. (2009). “Occurence of thermotolerant Naegleria and Acanthamoeba in some natural water sources in Chiang Mai.” Chiang Mai Med. J., 48(3), 117–124.
Yoder, J. S., Eddy, B. A., Visvesvara, G. S., Capewell, L., and Beach, M. J. (2010). “The epidemiology of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in the USA, 1962–2008.” Epidemiol. Infect.EPINEU, 138(07), 968–975.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 8 • August 2012
Pages: 893 - 898
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 8, 2011
Accepted: Feb 3, 2012
Published online: Feb 6, 2012
Published in print: Aug 1, 2012
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.