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Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis after swimming in the Rio Grande

T S DeNapoli1, J Y Rutman, J R Robinson

  • 1Santa Rosa Children's Hospital, San Antonio, TX 78207-3198, USA.

Texas Medicine
|October 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

A fatal case of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by Naegleria fowleri occurred in a child after swimming in the Rio Grande. Sewage-polluted river water is implicated as the source, highlighting risks of recreational water exposure.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Neurology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare and often fatal infection of the central nervous system.
  • Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba found in warm freshwater environments.

Observation:

  • A 13-year-old male contracted PAM after swimming in the Rio Grande and a river-fed holding tank.
  • Clinical presentation and diagnostic autopsy revealed characteristic neuropathologic features of PAM.

Findings:

  • Microscopic identification of Naegleria fowleri with broad, lobate pseudopodia confirmed the diagnosis.
  • Public health investigation identified sewage-polluted Rio Grande water as the likely source of infection.
  • Warm, sluggish water with high coliform counts creates favorable conditions for Naegleria fowleri proliferation.

Implications:

  • Exposure to polluted recreational waters, such as the Rio Grande, poses a risk for Naegleria fowleri infection.
  • Timely diagnosis based on microscopic identification is crucial for potential treatment.
  • International cooperation in pollution control is essential for preventing infectious diseases along shared borders.

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