A 10-year-old boy with symptoms of meningitis and a history of swimming in his farm pond was brought to the hospital emergency department. Examination of his CSF revealed motile amoeba measuring 12 µm in diameter. The most likely parasite is:
A) Acanthamoeba spp. trophozoites
B) Dientamoeba fragilis trophozoites
C) Endolimax nana trophozoites
D) Naeglaria fowleri trophozoites

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

N. fowleri lives in warm water ponds and usually enters the host through the mucous membranes of the nose and migrates to the CNS. Acanthamoeba spp. rarely enters the CNS. The other two parasites do not invade the CNS.

A 10-Year-Old Boy with Symptoms of Meningitis and a History