Naegleria is a unicellular amoeba, commonly found in freshwater. Only one type of Naegleria infects people.
It is pertinent to mention that people cannot be infected from drinking water contaminated with Naegleria. They can only be infected when contaminated water goes up into their nose.
Naegleria fowleri infects people when water containing the ameba enters the body through the nose. This typically occurs when people go swimming or diving in warm freshwater like lakes and rivers. The Naegleria ameba then travels up the nose to the brain where it destroys the brain tissue.
Naegleria grows best at higher temperatures up to 46°C and can survive for short periods at higher temperatures. The ameba does not found in salt water like the ocean. Naegleria fowleri is a heat-loving (thermophilic) organism.
