Phagocytosis of human erythrocytes by Naegleria is not related to species pathogenicity. A phase-contrast cinemicrographic study.

This phase contrast cinemicrographic study evaluated the phagocytic activity of Naegleria spp. (Naegleria fowleri, Naegleria australiensis and Naegleria lovaniensis) towards human red cells. Thus erythrophagocytosis, a marker of pathogeneicity for Entamoeba histolytica, did not correlate with virulence in either the pathogenic or non-pathogenic Naegleria spp. tested. Our study also revealed no quantitative differences in phagocytosis by Naegleria spp. of human erythrocytes.