title: Meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri in cattle of northeast Brazil.
abstract: Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis is an acute disease of the central nervous system of humans and animals caused by Naegleria fowleri. This report describes a case of meningoencephalitis caused by N. fowleri in a crossbred, one-year-old bovine with progressive neurological signs. At necropsy there was thickening of the meninges and multifocal areas of malacia in the thalamus, caudal and rostral colliculi, parietal and occipital cortex, and cerebellum. Histologically there was multifocal necrosupurative meningoencephalitis associated with areas of malacia containing amoebic trophozoites. Immunohistochemistry of the brain was positive for N. fowleri. The disease should be included among the differential diagnosis of diseases of the central nervous system in cattle in areas where animals are exposed to hot, stagnant water.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Hospital, Federal University of Campina Grande, Patos, Paraíba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pimentel
authors.forename: Antônio Flávio M
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Dantas
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Uzal
authors.forename: Franklin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riet-Correa
mesh_terms: D000562:Amebiasis / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D020808:Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D016848:Naegleria fowleri / Q000302:isolation & purification*