Occurrence and pathogenicity of Naegleria fowleri in artificially heated waters

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5683452

Sykora, J L; Keleti, G; Martinez, A J

The occurrence of pathogenic Naegleria fowleri in thermal discharges, recipient waters, and cooling towers of eight power plants located in western Pennsylvania was investigated for 2 years in conjunction with several environmental measurements. Pathogenic N. fowleri was detected in one cooling tower and in the discharge, receiving waters, or both of five of eight localities. The occurrence of this organism was related to elevated temperatures, but no significant correlation was found for other biological and chemical parameters. Laboratory experiments on the effect of pH on pathogenic N. fowleri documented 100% survival at a range from 2.1 to 8.15. Higher pH reduced or killed the amoebae. No case of human primary amoebic meningoencephalitis occurred during the study.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA
• OSTI ID: 5683452
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 45:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
AMOEBA
DETECTION
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
COOLING TOWERS
HEALTH HAZARDS
PATHOGENS
THERMAL EFFLUENTS
COAL
MORTALITY
PENNSYLVANIA
PH VALUE
ANIMALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION III
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HAZARDS
INVERTEBRATES
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MICROORGANISMS
NORTH AMERICA
POWER PLANTS
PROTOZOA
SARCODINA
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TOWERS
USA
550700* - Microbiology
560206 - Thermal Effects- Man- (-1987)
570000 - Health & Safety