As a result of fatal, brain-eating amoeba existed since 50 years ago

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –

Amoeba Brain eating became a hot topic of conversation after a six-year-old boy in the United States died on September 8, 2020 due to being infected with the amoeba. The boy had primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by an amoeba named Naegleria fowleri.

In fact, Naegleria fowleri (N. fowleri) has been discovered by researchers since 50 years ago. In 1965, amoeba caused PAM disease which attacks the central nervous system in Australia.

Articles published in Journal of Medical Microbiolgy in 2016, PAM was found to be fatal. The cure rate for this disease is only five percent.

The earliest symptoms include severe headache, high fever and stiff neck, followed by anorexia, vomiting, irritability, photophobia, and neurological disorders, including diplopia, lethargy, seizures, and coma. Cranial nerve palsy may indicate brain edema. Death occurs between the third and seventh day after symptoms.

There is no cure yet

Research also highlights that until now there is no specific treatment for PAM. Apart from that, these amoebae are considered as neglected micro-organisms.

The article highlights that a correct diagnosis is the key to choosing the right treatment. However, PAM is generally not confirmed during the early stages of infection. Most people infected with this organism die.

Because of the high mortality rate, more effective drugs are needed. Drug discovery research has increased since PAM’s first report. In 1969, researchers found that only amphotericin B (AmB) had an in vitro amoebicidal effect (lab testing) and an in vivo protective effect (living test).

It is important to note that AmB does not specifically target N. fowleri.

On the other hand, researchers have put great effort into designing effective drugs to treat PAM and to understand the pathogenesis of PAM over the past 50 years.

Researchers seek to understand such things as pathology, molecular and cellular biology, diagnosis and prevention, and their biological implications, including pathogen genotype, distribution and ecology.

Reporting from Microbiology Society, the typical symptoms of PAM appear during the first week after infection with N. fowleri trophozoites. There are no clinical features that differentiate PAM from other types of meningitis. Therefore, it is very important for the doctor to obtain a detailed clinical history of the patient

N. fowleri infects humans of various ages who come into contact with water contaminated with these microorganisms. N. fowleri is distributed throughout the world and is found growing in freshwater in tropical and subtropical environments.

Given the rapid development of PAM and its high mortality rate, researchers cite the importance of continuous investigation and collaboration to gain a better understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease for drug development.

Reporting from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, the article reveals that PAM is an acute and fatal disease that has recently become more common in developed and underdeveloped countries. The number of PAM cases could increase due to global warming, global overpopulation and increased industrial activity.

(dd / mm)

[Gambas:Video CNN]

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