Naegleria australiensis ssp. italica: experimental study in mice

A subspecies of Naegleria australiensis, N. australiensis italica, pathogenic for mice, was recently isolated and identified from an Italian thermal spa. We describe the histopathological changes of the central nervous system with experimental infection of albino mice. The histopathological patterns are intermediate to those seen with infection caused by N. fowleri and N. australiensis or Acanthamoeba spp. An acute inflammatory reaction was present within the choroid plexus, ependyma, midbrain, cerebellum, and basal ganglia. Occasional single amebic trophozoites were found within some microabscesses. Cysts were not identified. Involvement of the olfactory neuroepithelium and of the nasal mucosa was not detected.