It can be found in the passion flower and the açaí palm.

The traditional caboclo populations in the Amazon region of Brazil are noted as voracious eaters of the açaí palm fruit.

The name açaí palm usually refers to Euterpe oleracea, but various other species of Euterpe are cultivated commercially under that name.

In 1991, farm workers in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, were infected by eating contaminated food; transmission has also occurred via contaminated açaí palm fruit juice and sugar cane juice.

In a study of three traditional Caboclo populations in the Brazilian Amazon, açaí palm was described as the most important plant species because the fruit makes up a major component of their diet, up to 42% of the total food intake by weight.