Abstract

Chick embryos were infected with Naegleria fowleri which was initially isolated from an ultimately fatal human case. Following inoculation of equivalent numbers of amebae on the corioallantoic membrane, younger embryos died earlier than older embryos infected at the same time. Incubation of infected embryos at 32°C prolonged survival only slightly in comparison with those at 37°C. N. fowleri maintained for more than 25 serial passages in chick embryos retained infectivity for mice and the ability to convert to the biflagellate form in vitro.