---
cited_by:
  - publication: /report/usgcrp-climate-human-health-assessment-2016/chapter/water-related-illnesses
    publication_type: chapter
    reference: /reference/7eee1464-47bc-473c-984d-048c2f900b19
  - publication: /report/usgcrp-climate-human-health-assessment-2016
    publication_type: report
    reference: /reference/7eee1464-47bc-473c-984d-048c2f900b19
contributors: []
description: 'The presence of pathogenic free-living amoebae (FLA) such as Naegleria fowleri in freshwater environments is a potential public health risk. Although its occurrence in various water sources has been well reported, its presence and associated factors in biofilm remain unknown. In this study, the density of N. fowleri in biofilms spontaneously growing on glass slides fed by raw freshwater were followed at 32 degC and 42 degC for 45 days. The biofilms were collected with their substrata and characterized for their structure, numbered for their bacterial density, thermophilic free-living amoebae, and pathogenic N. fowleri. The cell density of N. fowleri within the biofilms was significantly affected both by the temperature and the nutrient level (bacteria/amoeba ratio). At 32 degC, the density remained constantly low (1-10 N. fowleri/cm2) indicating that the amoebae were in a survival state, whereas at 42 degC the density reached 30-900 N. fowleri/cm2indicating an active growth phase. The nutrient level, as well, strongly affected the apparent specific growth rate (m) of N. fowleri in the range of 0.03-0.23 h[?]1. At 42 degC a hyperbolic relationship was found between m and the bacteria/amoeba ratio. A ratio of 106 to 107 bacteria/amoeba was needed to approach the apparent mmax value (0.23 h[?]1). Data analysis also showed that a threshold for the nutrient level of close to 104bacteria/amoeba is needed to detect the growth of N. fowleri in freshwater biofilm. This study emphasizes the important role of the temperature and bacteria as prey to promote not only the growth of N. fowleri, but also its survival. '
display_name: Growth dynamic of Naegleria fowleri in a microbial freshwater biofilm
doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.05.030
files: []
href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/article/10.1016/j.watres.2012.05.030.yaml
identifier: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.05.030
journal_identifier: water-research
journal_pages: 3958-3966
journal_vol: 46
notes: ~
parents:
  - display_name: "Chapter 6: Climate Impacts on Water-Related Illnesses (in 'The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment')"
    reference: /reference/7eee1464-47bc-473c-984d-048c2f900b19
    relationship: cito:isCitedBy
    uri: /report/usgcrp-climate-human-health-assessment-2016/chapter/water-related-illnesses
  - display_name: 'The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment'
    reference: /reference/7eee1464-47bc-473c-984d-048c2f900b19
    relationship: cito:isCitedBy
    uri: /report/usgcrp-climate-human-health-assessment-2016
references: []
title: Growth dynamic of Naegleria fowleri in a microbial freshwater biofilm
type: article
uri: /article/10.1016/j.watres.2012.05.030
url: ~
year: 2012