Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

New Species of Protists Involved in Meningitis and Encephalitis in Peru: Morphology Description

Version 1 : Received: 2 March 2023 / Approved: 7 March 2023 / Online: 7 March 2023 (03:44:06 CET)

How to cite: Cabello-Vílchez, A. M. New Species of Protists Involved in Meningitis and Encephalitis in Peru: Morphology Description. Preprints 2023, 2023030125. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202303.0125.v1 Cabello-Vílchez, A. M. New Species of Protists Involved in Meningitis and Encephalitis in Peru: Morphology Description. Preprints 2023, 2023030125. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202303.0125.v1

Abstract

Background: Free-living amoebas (FLA), also amebas, are eukaryotic and mitochondrial microorganisms that are capable of growing in any environment, aquatic or terrestrial. These free-living amoebas are mostly non-pathogenic to humans. However, there exist some highly pathogenic species, such as Acanthamoeba — mainly T-4 genotype —, Naegleria fowleri (known as brain-eating amoeba), and Balamuthia mandrillaris. They can be called "brain-eating amoebas” because of their ability to cause substantial destruction of brain tissue. There is no standard treatment; immunological processes which predispose humans to acquire and infection and, then, a disease are unknown. In addition, there are other species of free-living amoebas such as, Sappinea pedata, Vermamoeba vermiformes, Vanellas sp,Vahlkampfia sp., and, more recently, Paravahlkampfia francinae, which is less virulent and aggressive than the first three mentioned above. Methods: All CSF samples were evaluated in our laboratory under the microscope. Monoxenic and axenic cultures were negative as well as the presence of cysts or exponential growth. PCR was negative using the FLA primers. Results: Under close observation of sterile CSF, we can see mobile forms of non-human cells. None of the observed forms has the morphotype of Acanthamoeba, Naegleria sp. or Balamuthia mandrillaris. Conclusions: Due to these findings, we know these structures can be observed in the CSF and many of them do not form cysts as others do. In addition, these microorganisms are uncultivable in conventional medium culture to FLA and impossible to detect even when using molecular tools such as PCR, using the primers for EUK A/B or 18s RNAr gene as a target.

Keywords

Amoeba; Meningitis; Meningoencephalitis; free-living amoeba; Peru

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Immunology and Microbiology

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