[Comparative study of the pathogenicity of free-living amoebae in mice and their cytopathogenic effect in vitro].

The study of the experimental pathogenic effect on the mouse of 47 strains of free-living amoebas (Vahlkampfia, Naegleria, Hartmannella and Acanthamoeba) showed that 5 strains belonging all to the species A. polyphaga could induce a fatal meningo-encephalitis in the mouse. After axenisation of 12 strains of Acanthamoeba, the study of the cytopathogenic effect in vitro showed that all the strains studied were able to induce, sooner or later, the destruction of the cellular layer. But, using the same inoculum, the strains pathogenic for the animal, seemed to have a quicker cytopathogenic effect in vitro.