[Human diseases caused by free-living amoebae. II. Primary amebic ++ meningoencephalitis]

This revision gives an overall view of the health problems caused by the amoebas of the Naegleria genus, which despite being free-life amoebas, can affect humans, almost always fatally, because they cause a syndrome known as primary amoebian meningoencephalitis, which affects people of all ages and physical condition, and especially those who have a prior history of contacts, even if not exclusive, with fresh waters especially sports-related contacts. Morphological data of the protozoon are given, as well as of the pathology of the illness and the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment, plus a table of cases successfully treated around the world to date.

[Human diseases caused by free-living amoebae. I. Acanthamoebiasis]

This summary offers an updated panorama of the problems caused in many countries, including our own, by free protozoan, Acanthamoeba class amoebas that in certain circumstances depend on either pathogenic potential or the immunological condition of the host and which produce significant disease syndromes. Presented here are the main morphological and ecological characteristics of these amoeba, a summarized study of their pathological characteristic, diagnostic and therapeutic data, as well as a synopsis of the majority of clinical cases diagnosed in the world to date.

[Isolation of free-living amoebas from samples of respiratory origin]

By seeding free-living amebas in isolation, a study was conducted on the contamination by these protozoa of nasal and pharyngeal mucus in 58 children from Madrid. Two positive cases were identified, leading to the isolation of 2 amoebic strains, identified as belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba. The pathogenic capacity of these amebas was tested in white mice, and one of the former was found to be extremely pathogenic for these mice. The potential hazard deriving from the presence of these pathogenic for these mice. The potential hazard deriving from the presence of these pathogenic protozoa among healthy populations is discussed.