Use of an axenic medium for differentiation between pathogenic and nonpathogenic Naegleria fowleri isolates

Growth in an axenic medium composed by Chang (3rd Int. Congr. Parasitol. Munich Abstr. ICPIII 1:187-188, 1974) allowed separation of pathogenic from nonpathogenic Naegleria fowleri strains, since only the former show luxuriant growth in this medium. On the basis of these results, this medium was used in early screening for virulent Naegleria isolates. During an extensive ecological study, data were obtained on 102 Naegleria strains. Twenty of these strains grew luxuriantly in this liquid medium. Seventeen of them were tested by intranasal instillation in mice, and all proved to be highly pathogenic. Strains showing only moderate growth or no growth at all in this axenic medium were found to be nonpathogenic for mice. Moreover, it was found that using this medium in the early stage of Naegleria sampling favors isolation of pathogenic strains in mixtures of Naegleria. During these experiments, further evidence was obtained that thermal polluted waters are the main origin of N. fowleri in the environment.