Naegleria fowleri

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Naegleria fowleri
Different stages of Naegleria fowleri
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota (unranked) Excavata Phylum: Percolozoa Class: Heterolobosea Order: Schizopyrenida Family: Vahlkampfiidae Genus: Naegleria Species: N. fowleri
Binomial name
Naegleria fowleri Carter (1970)

Description and significance

Naegleria fowleri (commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba) is a free-living protist found in moist environments (25-35 degrees Celsius) including soil, sewage, or warm fresh water. It is a member of the Percolozoa phylum and exists in the alternating states trophozoite, cyst, and flagellate. N. fowleri can cause the rare but fatal disease primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) when it enters the human nervous system.