Blue-green whozits?

[Hermaniac]

I have just been informed that my cousin has contracted a "toxic infection of the brain" probably due to cyanobacterial infection. Does anyone know about this blue-green algae or have any experiences in the area??

 

[Jaimes]

I have just been informed that my cousin has contracted a "toxic infection of the brain" probably due to cyanobacterial infection. Does anyone know about this blue-green algae or have any experiences in the area??

A cyanobacteria is a bacteria that contains pigments that make it photosynthesise to produce its energy source - and a toxic infection is a disease caused by the products of its metabolic processess.

I know that bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics, so it's pretty handy that those may be available. Also when under an immune response, there are plenty of macrophages in your brain.
If it is a cyanobacteria, then it would require light to photosynthesise (same as how plants produce 'food' from the light), since there's none of that inside your Nervous system, that's also quite a good thing.

Typically an infection would be caused by the pathogen getting in via your mouth or an open wound, into your blood and then the fluid in your central nervous system. Living in an area with a stagnant water (ponds/swamps) or having animals (and their faeces) are typical sources of crossing.


I'm not an expert- but that should give you some rather basic knowledge over the science of the situation.

 

[Hermaniac]

Thanx very much, I appreciate your post and the effort you went to.