College of Science and Mathematics Oral Presentation Winner!
PCR Detection of Naegleria fowleri in Texas Lakes, Ghosn, Jean
College of Science and Mathematics
Professor: Dr. Hannah Wingate
Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a 98% fatal disease caused by the free-living amoeboflagellate Naegleria fowleri, has reached a total of 257 documented cases worldwide and 28 cases in Texas since 1983. With no available cure and rapid proliferation, insufflated N. fowleri invades the central nervous system primarily in immunocompetent children engaging in freshwater activities. Little is currently known regarding the specific distribution of N. fowleri, especially in Texas lakes. Efforts in correlating physical, chemical, or biological parameters with N. fowleri proliferation have proven inconclusive. In this project, we directly detected N. fowleri from three popular Texas lakes through PCR using species-specific 18S rRNA gene primers. Forty five two-liter samples collected from various locations from each lake were filtered, and the resulting filter papers were exposed to cell lysis solution and phenol-chloroform to extract purified DNA. N. fowleri was detected in several locations in Lake Arlington, but not in Joe Pool Lake or Lake Waxahachie. With this data, we aim to compile a database of N. fowleri-positive lakes in Texas for further PAM prevention efforts.
