Comparative neuropathology of Naegleria fowleri infection across species

Naegleria fowleri, the causative agent of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, produces an acute infection of the central nervous system. Although human cases are rare, the rapid progression and more than 95% mortality rate have made the disease an important subject of neuropathological research. Here, we discuss an integrated comparative review of the pathology of N. fowleri infection in humans and animals, highlighting conserved routes of neuroinvasion, shared patterns of necrotising and haemorrhagic meningoencephalitis, and cross-species similarities in inflammatory and vascular injury. The broadly consistent pathological features caused by this devastating pathogen, observed across a wide range of mammals, confirm the validity of animal models for both mechanistic studies and therapeutic development.