The University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands (IUETSPC) of the University of La Laguna, together with the company Aguas Canarias Research and Development (VADEAGUAS), announced last month (computer translated), that the product of the company called CLORICAN is effective in the elimination of Naegleria fowleri , the famous “amoeba comecerebros” in pool waters.

Naegleria fowleri
Image/CDC

Naegleria fowleri is the cause of fatal encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in more than 97% of cases and, to date, there were no products on the market that were 100% effective in preventing the presence of this pathogen in recreational waters.

In recent years, the number of cases of amoebic infections worldwide has increased alarmingly. In fact, in the summers between 2014 and 2018, in the United States the number of cases of amebic encephalitis has been constant and worrisome, since it mainly affects children and young adults and is usually fatal. This amoeba usually infects patients who have carried out risky activities in recreational waters such as lakes, lagoons or pools.

In the Canary Islands, the free life amoeba laboratory of the IUETSPC, directed by Jacob-Lorenzo Morales, has been working on these pathogens for more than fifteen years. In fact, thanks to the existence of this laboratory, it is possible to diagnose most of the national and local cases of amoebic infections. However, from the research center of the University of La Laguna has been estimated the convenience of raising awareness among the population in general and health professionals in particular about pathologies due to free-living amoebas .

The Naegleria fowleri interviews

In March 2018, after the diagnosis of the first case of encephalitis due to Naegleria fowleri in Spain, thanks to the Lorenzo-Morales laboratory together with the National Microbiology Center, the Canary Island company Vadeaguas contacted the IUETSPC to carry out joint research.


As a result of this contact and through the Foundation for the Control of Tropical Diseases (FUNNCET) of the IUETSPC, a collaboration agreement was signed between the company and the university institute for the assessment of the anti-amebic properties of products marketed by this company.

Spain reports Naegleria fowleri survivor: Report

To date, the company-research center group, through the management of Vadeaguas, has made public that its CLORICAN product is active against trophozoites (feeding phase) and cysts (latent resistance phase) of Naegleria fowleri . These tests have been carried out in vitroand, in the coming months, the effectiveness of the product in larger volumes of pool water in laboratory conditions will be evaluated.

Vadepool CLORICAN is a chemical product of VADEAGUAS, a biocide authorized for use in all types of swimming pools according to sanitary registry of the Ministry of Health with reference 17-60-08805. The results obtained by this research consortium formed by the Canarian company and the IUETSPC-ULL team show that its potential use will prevent the presence of “amoebae comecerebros” in pool waters.