Comparative analyses of different genetic markers for the detection of Acanthamoeba spp. isolates

Derda, Monika; Wojtkowiak-Giera, Agnieszka; Hadaś, E.

doi:10.2478/s11686-014-0267-6

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…In Poland, free-living amoebae have been isolated from waters in the vicinity of Poznań [ 43 ]. Successively, in further environmental studies on Acanthamoeba , potentially pathogenic strains have been detected in Lake Żarnowieckie, the Piaśnica River, and a canal used as a recreational resort in northern Poland; moreover, free-living amoebae have been isolated from natural water bodies including lakes, ponds, rivers, and lagoons of the West Pomeranian and Lubuskie area, in tap water of the water supply system of Szczecin city, in surface water layers, and in water with sediment in northern Poland at the area of the cities Gdańsk, Gdynia, and Sopot, as well as in swimming pools and fountains in western Poland [ 44 – 50 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Threats for Human Health in Poland: Pathogenic Isolates from Drug ResistantAcanthamoebaKeratitis Monitored in terms of TheirIn VitroDynamics and Temperature Adaptability

Chomicz

Conn

Padzik

et al. 2015

BioMed Research International

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Amphizoic amoebae generate a serious human health threat due to their pathogenic potential as facultative parasites, causative agents of vision-threatening Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). Recently, AK incidences have been reported with increasing frequency worldwide, particularly in contact lens wearers. In our study, severe cases of AK in Poland and respective pathogenic isolates were assessed at clinical, morphological, and molecular levels. Misdiagnoses and the unsuccessful treatment in other ophthalmic units delayed suitable therapy, and resistance to applied chemicals resulted in severe courses and treatment difficulties. Molecular assessment indicated that all sequenced pathogenic corneal isolates deriving from Polish patients with AK examined by us showed 98–100% homology with Acanthamoeba genotype T4, the most prevalent genotype in this human ocular infection worldwide. In vitro assays revealed that the pathogenic strains are able to grow at elevated temperature and have a wide adaptive capability. This study is our subsequent in vitro investigation on pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains of AK originating from Polish patients. Further investigations designed to foster a better understanding of the factors leading to an increase of AK observed in the past years in Poland may help to prevent or at least better cope with future cases.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Threats for Human Health in Poland: Pathogenic Isolates from Drug ResistantAcanthamoebaKeratitis Monitored in terms of TheirIn VitroDynamics and Temperature Adaptability

Chomicz

Conn

Padzik

et al. 2015

BioMed Research International

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“…Our previous study confirmed the usefulness of PCR for the early, rapid, and sensitive diagnosis of pathogenic Acanthamoeba spp. strains (Derda et al 2014 ). The best highly specific marker that distinguishes pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains in water samples in Poland is a pair of primers of Aca 16.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genotypic characterization of amoeba isolated from Acanthamoeba keratitis in Poland

et al. 2015

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Free-living amoebae belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba are the causative factor of many diseases. Among others, they cause Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), a condition that usually occurs in contact lens wearers, though it is also observed in non-wearers. The number of diagnosed cases of AK increased more than eightfold during 8 years in the USA, and a proportional increase in frequency also occurred in Poland and Europe. Cases of AK are usually diagnosed late, and their therapy is difficult and rarely successful. AK is an uncommon diagnosis in Poland. The increased number of positive cases observed in our laboratory may reflect the growing at-risk population of contact lens wearers. Acanthamoeba as a genus of facultative human parasites is currently classified into 17 genotypes. Isolates belonging to seven genotypes were found to be associated with AK. One genotype in particular, T4, was found to be overrepresented in human disease. The main finding of our study is that in Poland, AK is almost always associated with the T4 genotype.

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Genotypic, physiological, and biochemical characterization of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba isolated from the environment in Cairo, Egypt

et al. 2016

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Acanthamoebae are the most common opportunistic amphizoic protozoa that cause life-threatening granulomatous amoebic encephalitis in immunocompromised individuals and sight-threatening amoebic keratitis (AK) in contact lens wearers. The present work aimed to determine the presence of Acanthamoeba isolates in different environmental sources: water, soil, and dust in Cairo, Egypt and to characterize the pathogenic potential of the isolated Acanthamoeba using physiological and biochemical assays as well as determination of the genotypes in an attempt to correlate pathogenicity with certain genotypes. The study included the collection of 22 corneal scrapings from patients complaining of symptoms and signs indicative of acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) and 75 environmental samples followed by cultivation on non-nutrient agar plates preseeded with E. coli. Positive samples for Acanthamoeba were subjected to osmo- and thermo-tolerance assays and zymography analysis. Potentially pathogenic isolates were subjected to PCR amplification using genus-specific primer pair. Isolates were classified at the genotype level based on the sequence analysis of Acanthamoeba 18S rRNA gene (diagnostic fragment 3). The total detection rate for Acanthamoeba in environmental samples was 33.3 %, 31.4 % in water, 40 % in soil, and 20 % in dust samples. Three and two Acanthamoeba isolates from water and soil sources, respectively, had the potential for pathogenicity as they exhibited full range of pathogenic traits. Other 12 isolates were designated as weak potential pathogens. Only ten of the environmental isolates were positive in PCR and were classified by genotype analysis into T4 genotype (70 %), T3 (10 %) and T5 (20 %). Potential pathogens belonged to genotypes T4 (from water) and T5 (from soil) while weak potential pathogens belonged to genotypes T3 (from water) and T4 (from water and soil). Additionally, T7 genotype was isolated from keratitis patients. There is a considerable variation in the response of Acanthamoeba members of the same genotype to pathogenicity indicator assays making correlation of pathogenicity with certain genotypes difficult. Presence of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba isolates in habitats related directly to human populations represent a risk for human health. Isolation of Acanthamoeba genotype T7 from AK cases, which is commonly considered as nonpathogenic, might draw the attention to other Acanthamoeba genotypes considered as non pathogenic and reevaluate their role in production of human infections. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the presence and distribution of Acanthamoeba genotypes in the environment, Cairo, Egypt.

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Comparative analyses of different genetic markers for the detection of Acanthamoeba spp. isolates

Cited by 5 publications

References 48 publications

Emerging Threats for Human Health in Poland: Pathogenic Isolates from Drug ResistantAcanthamoebaKeratitis Monitored in terms of TheirIn VitroDynamics and Temperature Adaptability

Emerging Threats for Human Health in Poland: Pathogenic Isolates from Drug ResistantAcanthamoebaKeratitis Monitored in terms of TheirIn VitroDynamics and Temperature Adaptability

Genotypic characterization of amoeba isolated from Acanthamoeba keratitis in Poland

Genotypic, physiological, and biochemical characterization of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba isolated from the environment in Cairo, Egypt

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