title: Meningoencephalitis due to the amoeboflagellate Naegleria fowleri in ruminants in Algeria.
abstract: Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a fatal infection in most cases, caused by the amoeba flagellate Naegleria fowleri. This report describes the first cases of PAM in Algeria, in a cow and a ewe from Batna, north-eastern Algeria. The death of both ruminants occurred a week after the first clinical manifestations. The cerebrospinal fluid, after staining with May-Grünwald-Giemsa, showed the presence of amoebae cells. Histological sections revealed numerous amoebae in all parts of the brain. The presence of N. fowleri was confirmed using a species-specific real-time PCR in histological tissue sections. The two PAM cases were reported during the hot season, and the source of infection is very likely the water where the cattle came to drink. Particular attention should be focused on this type of infection in aquatic environments when the temperature is high and preventive measures must be taken to avoid the proliferation of N. fowleri.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinic "Le refuge", 05000 Batna, Algeria.
authors.forename: Mohamed Seghir
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Benterki
authors.affiliation: Laboratory ESPA, University of Batna 1, 05000 Batna, Algeria.
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayachi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory ESPA, University of Batna 1, 05000 Batna, Algeria.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bennoune
authors.affiliation: Université de Lyon, UMR 5240, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, 69622 Villeurbanne, France.
authors.forename: Estelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Régoudis
authors.affiliation: Université de Lyon, UMR 5240, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, 69622 Villeurbanne, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pélandakis
mesh_terms: D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D020808:Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000469:parasitology; D002980:Climate; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005260:Female; D016848:Naegleria fowleri / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D014867:Water / Q000469:parasitology; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D014867:Water