Abstract
Among the many species of free-living amoebae infecting humans, only Naegleria fowleri, a few species of Acanthamoeba, Balamuthia mandrillaris recently Sappinia diploïdea and Paravahlkampfia Francina are responsible for human diseases especially deadly encephalitis outside of Acanthamoeba keratitis related. In the Central African Republic (CAR), no studies have previously been conducted about free amoebae and no suspicious cases of encephalitis or amoebic keratitis was reported even though the ecosystem supported the proliferation of these microorganisms. The objective of this study was to identify free-living amoebae present in CAR and to define the molecular characteristic. Bathing sites and cerebrospinal fluid from patients died of bacterial meningitis untagged were explored by culture and PCR and the amplicons were sequenced which allowed to characterize the species found. Only species of the genus Tetramitus, namely T. Entericus, T. waccamawensis and T.sp similar to those already described in the world and not pathogenic for humans were found in bathing sites, the cerebrospinal fluid meanwhile remained negative. Although no pathogen species such as Naegleria fowleri or species of Acanthamoeba have been isolated, this study worth pursuing because this investigation was very limited in space because of the insecurity in the country.
Highlights
Free-living amoebae, unlike parasitic amoebae, complete their entire cycle in nature and do not require a host [1]
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis due to Naegleria fowleri is an acute condition in healthy children and adults, manifesting several days after infection and rapidly evolving to severe disease in the absence of early treatment
In the Central African Republic (CAR), the presence of free-living amoebae has not been studied, and no suspected cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis have been reported, cases have been reported in Nigeria, Zambia and South Africa [7, 8]
Summary
Free-living amoebae, unlike parasitic amoebae, complete their entire cycle in nature and do not require a host [1]. The main organisms involved are Naegleria, Acanthamoeba, Balamuthia, several amoebae of the genus Sappinia (S. diploidea, S. pedata) and a species of the genus Paravahlkampfia, P. francina, which was recently incriminated in cases of encephalitis [4,5,6]. Some of the cases of encephalitis were opportunistic infections in immunodepressed individuals and consisted of granulomatous encephalitis due to Acanthamoeba and Balamuthia, which evolves chronically and is usually fatal. Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis due to Naegleria fowleri is an acute condition in healthy children and adults, manifesting several days after infection and rapidly evolving to severe disease in the absence of early treatment. In the Central African Republic (CAR), the presence of free-living amoebae has not been studied, and no suspected cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis have been reported, cases have been reported in Nigeria, Zambia and South Africa [7, 8].
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