Occurrence of Naegleria fowleri and faecal indicators in sediments from Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana

Abstract

The occurrence of amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, in sediment samples from Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana was investigated. This amoeba is pathogenic and can cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. In this study, quantitative polymerase chain reaction methods were used to test for the prevalence of Naegleria fowleri, HF183, and E. coli. N. fowleri was detected in 51.25% of our sediment samples. Illumina sequencing of sediment samples revealed ten different phyla, with Cyanobacteria being the most predominant at sites that generally presented with the highest median N. fowleri concentrations. N. fowleri was however strongly negatively correlated with HF183 (r = −0.859, p 19.1 °C) than at lower temperatures (<19.1 °C). HIGHLIGHTS The occurrence of free-living amoeba, Naegleria fowleri in sediment samples from Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana was investigated.; N. fowleri was detected in 51.25% of our sediment samples. N. fowleri was, however, strongly negatively correlated with HF183 (r = −0.859, p < 0.001).; Higher N. fowleri detection rates were observed at higher temperatures than at lower temperatures.;

Keywords

• escherichia coli
• lake pontchartrain
• naegleria fowleri
• primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (pam)
• qpcr