Experts in ecology and public health have sounded the alarm regarding the escalating threat posed by free-living amoebae (FLA)—single-celled organisms that inhabit water sources and soil. In a recent paper featured in the journal Biocontaminant, researchers detail how shifts in global climate patterns, declining water body quality, and insufficient oversight from sanitation authorities are creating ideal environments for these pathogens to spread worldwide.
While the majority of amoebae species are harmless, certain types possess the capability to induce severe illnesses. A prime example is Naegleria fowleri, notoriously dubbed the “brain-eating amoeba.” Infection from this organism is nearly invariably fatal and can occur when contaminated water enters the nasal passages, often during recreational activities such as swimming.
Linfeng Shu, affiliated with Sun Yat-sen University, noted that these FLA exhibit remarkable hardiness when facing adverse conditions: they tolerate high temperatures, resist chlorine treatment, and can persist within water distribution pipelines. Furthermore, these microorganisms function as protective “hideouts” for other microbes, as bacteria and viruses can reside inside the amoebae, circumventing typical disinfection processes—a phenomenon now termed the “Trojan Horse” effect.
Rising temperatures are facilitating the colonization of previously unaffected regions by heat-loving (thermophilic) species. Instances of human affliction following immersion in natural water bodies have already been documented across several nations.
The authors of the study advocate for the adoption of an integrated “One Health” strategy, which merges expertise across medicine, environmental science, and water engineering. According to these specialists, only systematic monitoring, robust purification methods, and swift diagnostic capabilities will be sufficient to halt the proliferation of these hazardous microorganisms before widespread outbreaks materialize.
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