The microbe Naegleria fowleri, commonly called the brain-eating-amoeba, was first identified from a fatal case of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) in Australia in 1961. In 1965, three further cases of fatal PAM were found, from which clinical and laboratory investigations pointed to a relation with acute bacterial meningitis among the cases of an unknown etiology. According to Fowler & Carter (1965), when post-death examinations of the bodies were performed researchers found that “microscopically
Mosquitoes, fever and even death may be some of the things that come to mind when we're asked to think about West Nile Virus. Many of us would consider mosquitoes a small trade-off for what the summertime provides, but what if there were more at risk than a bump above your skin and an itch? In a not so distant past West Nile Virus ascended into news broadcasts all throughout the country and alarming it's residents. Today however, that all seems to be an afterthought. The intentions today are
Naegleria Fowleri In recent months there has been much talk and speculation about the bacteria called Naegleria Fowleri, or better known to the public as the “Brain-eating ameba”. This microscopic and seemingly insignificant organism is commonly found in warm fresh water around the world, yet infections with this particular ameba are rare, leaving doctors and scientists curious to understand the link between this microorganism and the select few infected by this deadly bacteria. Studies indicate
Rift Valley Fever is a viral zoonotic disease that is arthropod-borne.1, 2, 3, 4 This viral disease primarily affects domestic animals but has the ability to affect humans.1, 3, 4 The severity of the disease can range from mild to severe and can be potentially fatal.1 An epidemic in the animal population, also known as an epizootic, could result in increased economic loss as the disease leads to livestock death and spontaneous abortion among pregnant animals .1, 2, 3, 4 A reduction in trade
While many forms of encephalitis exist, West Nile Virus was first isolated and identified in the West Nile District of Uganda in 1937. The virus, which was seemingly isolated to North Eastern Africa, became recognized as a cause of severe human meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the spinal cord and brain) in elderly patients during an outbreak in Israel in 1957. In addition to the human victims of this disease, the virus was found Egypt and France during 1960s to have fatal effects within horses. While
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the obligate intracellular parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii.1 It is estimated to be the leading cause of food-related deaths in the United States and it infects up to a third of the worldwide population. Incidence is highest in areas that are hot, humid and at a low elevation, all of which are characteristic of the southwestern US where the case patient, S.C., is from. 2,3 Cats are the common culprit as they become definitive hosts of the parasite after
central nervous system is significantly affected. The Inflammation level dramatically increases during that stages of the infection, and the longer it goes unchecked it leads to tissue damage, further leading to myocarditis (heart inflammation), meningoencephalitis (inflammation of membrane of the brain and cerebral tissue) and polyradiculitis (inflammation of nerve root connected to CNS). Research has shown that during this phase symptoms from phase one still occur, if not worse. Such as the flu-like
important role in Aβ pathogenesis, the presence of anti- Aβ antibodies could prevent the formation of amyloid plaques (Dodart et al., 2002). A few clinical trials testing Aβ vaccination were discontinued because 6% of the subjects presented aseptic meningoencephalitis, which is a severe adverse effect (Orgogozo et al., 2013). In one study however, by Hock et al. in 2003, AD patients immunized twice presented a slower progression of cognitive decline when compared to non-immunized patients, within the year
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges and affects the brain and spinal cord. There are five types of meningitis: viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and non-infectious meningitis. The symptoms are somewhat similar, though the causes and recommended treatments differ. Bacterial meningitis is the most contagious type of meningitis. All types of meningitis can be very debilitating to your health if not treated promptly (Centers for
Fungal infections are either opportunistic or endemic ubiquitous fungi that exist freely in the environment cause endemic fungal infections. On the other hand, opportunistic fungal infections only cause disease when the immune system degrades [1]. Opportunistic fungi are commensal with the host and a very low intrinsic virulence to cause until the immunity is altered. Some of these include: Candida species, Aspergillus species, pneumocystic jirovecii and Cyptococcus neoformans. These disseminate
Meningitis is defined as inflammation of the meninges, which are the thin membranous covering of the brain and spinal cord. There are different variations of the disease which include bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic, and non-infectious. Bacterial meningitis is severe in most cases. Many people fully recover but for those who are less fortunate it may cause brain damage leading to learning disabilities and hearing loss. There are many different pathogens that cause bacterial meningitis. The
Climate change is causing Earth to readjust. The polar ice caps are melting, lakes are evaporating, droughts are occurring, and the planet is getting warmer as a whole. This is changing even the small things such as microbes. Microbes live in every nook and cranny of this planet. Some are beneficial to life, however many are pathogens causing disease resulting in loss of certain bodily functions or even life. Countless pathogens are being affected by climate change, but one particularly being affected
The first symptom my uncle experienced was a rash that covered his whole body, followed by flu-like symptoms. I recall my aunt saying she thought it was West Nile, but it took her a month to convince the doctors to run the test. Coincidentally, the first symptom my dad had was the same rash and flu-like symptoms, so my mom immediately suspected West Nile. Over a period of two weeks my dad saw three different emergency room physicians who all said it was not West Nile, even though they had not tested
Shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson commissioned an expedition whose primary objective was to explore and map the newly acquired territory and establish an American presence there before other European powers tried to claim it. It consisted of a select group of U.S. Army volunteers under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. This two and a half year journey faced the obvious perils of inhospitable Native Americans, dangerous wildlife, and
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, is a recently recognized disease entity. It is caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which attacks selected cells in the immune system (see IMMUNITY) and produces defects in function. These defects may not be apparent for years. They lead in a relentless fashion, however, to a severe suppression of the immune system's ability to resist harmful organisms. This leaves the body open to an invasion by various