Free-Living Amoeba as Agents of Infection (Online CE Course)

(based on 47 customer ratings)

Garland E. Pendergraph, PhD, JD, MLS(ASCP)SM, HCLD/CC(ABB); Tamika E. Gosha, MA, MT(AAB)
Reviewers: Alexandru Casapu, MBA, MLS(ASCP)^CM; Julie Ann West, PhD, MLS(ASCP)^CM, SM(ASCP)^CM

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Most protozoa are free-living and have little or no impact on human health. They are found throughout the environment, particularly in soil and water. However, there are four free-living amoeba that have been associated with serious human infections. This course seeks to identify these amoeba and discuss their life cycles, methods of infection, and the symptoms that occur, as well as determine preventive measures that may be available.

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Continuing Education Credits

P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours (acceptable for AMT, ASCP, and state recertification): 1 hour(s)

Approved through 3/31/2026

Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel Credit Hours - General (Microbiology/Mycology/Parasitology): 1 hour(s)

Approved through 3/31/2026

Objectives

Identify the primary free-living amoeba that infect humans and contrast their life cycles.
Recognize the method of infection and symptoms that occur for each of the free-living amoeba reviewed.
Describe diagnostic methods for each of the free-living amoeba in this course.
Determine preventive measures for each of the free-living amoeba.

Customer Ratings

(based on 47 customer ratings)

Course Outline

Click on the links below to preview selected pages from this course.

Introduction

Terms to Remember
Introduction

Naegleria fowleri

Introduction: Naegleria fowleri
Life Cycle: Naegleria fowleri
Possible Mechanisms of Infection: Naegleria fowleri
Illness and Symptoms: Naegleria fowleri
Laboratory Diagnostic Methods: Naegleria fowleri
Laboratory Diagnostic Methods, continued: Naegleria fowleri
Case of a Survivor: Naegleria fowleri
Where is Naegleria fowleri found most often in nature?
True or False: People may become infected with Naegleria fowleri by drinking contaminated water.
Treatment: Naegleria fowleri
Prevention: Naegleria fowleri

Acanthamoeba species

Introduction: Acanthamoeba species
Possible Mechanisms of Infection: Acanthamoeba Species
Life Cycle: Acanthamoeba species
Illness and Symptoms: Acanthamoeba species
Illness and Symptoms, continued: Acanthamoeba species
Illness and Symptoms, continued: Acanthamoeba species
Laboratory Diagnostic Methods: Acanthamoeba species
Treatment: Acanthamoeba species
Prevention: Acanthamoeba species
On what did Byers base his 1991 classification of the genus Acanthamoeba species?
True or False: Acanthamoeba keratitis primarily affects otherwise healthy people - usually those wearing contact lenses.

Balamuthia mandrillaris

Introduction: Balamuthia mandrillaris
Life Cycle: Balamuthia mandrillaris
Life Cycle: Balamuthia mandrillaris, continued
Possible Mechanisms of Infection: Balamuthia mandrillaris
Illness and Symptoms: Balamuthia mandrillaris
Laboratory Diagnostic Methods: Balamuthia mandrillaris
Treatment and Prevention: Balamuthia mandrillaris

Additional Suggested Reading

Additional Suggested Reading

References

References

Additional Information

Level of instruction: Basic

Intended Audience: Medical laboratory scientists, medical technologists, and technicians. This course is also appropriate for medical laboratory science students and pathology residents.

Author information: Garland E. Pendergraph, PhD, JD, MLS(ASCP)SM, HCLD/CC(ABB) received his MSPH from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, his PhD in medical parasitology/entomology and mycology from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and his law degree with a concentration in health care law from Concord Law School, Purdue University. He also did a Fellowship in Tropical Medicine at Louisiana State University School of Medicine. He is the author of a textbook in phlebotomy, a number of scientific articles, plus internet training programs. He is the director of five laboratories.

Co-author information: Tamika Gosha, MA, MLT(ASCP), MT(AAB) is the laboratory manager at the student health services, Valdosta State University. She received her Bachelor and Master’s degrees from Purdue University.

Reviewer Information: Alexandru Casapu, MBA, MLS(ASCP)^CM, PBT^CM has over 20 years of experience as an MLS, section supervisor, and laboratory manager. A former Director of Clinical Laboratory Technology Program at Georgia Piedmont Technical College, he is currently a Program Director at MediaLab, Inc.

Reviewer Information: Dr. Julie Ann West is certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) and as a Specialist in Microbiology (SM). In addition, Dr. West has earned a PhD in Public Health - Infectious Disease Epidemiology - and is Certified in Public Health (CPH) by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. Dr. West is experienced as a Technical Specialist, Safety Officer, Educator, and Lead in the Veterans Administration Healthcare System, and has prior experience as an Administrative Laboratory Director.