PathogenicAcanthamoebastrains from water sources in Jamaica, West Indies

Abstract

In 2004, samples of tap water and of river and sea water associated with human activities were collected in Jamaica, West Indies, and checked for free-living Acanthamoeba. The morphologies of the cysts and trophozoites observed and the results of PCR-based amplifications with a genus-specific primer pair were used to identify the Acanthamoeba isolates. The potential of each isolate as a human pathogen was then evaluated using thermotolerance and osmotolerance assays and two PCR-based assays for Acanthamoeba pathogenesis. Acanthamoeba were identified in 36.1%, 26.4% and 49.6% of the tap-, river- and sea-water samples collected, respectively. Pathogenic potential was shown by 60.0% of the Acanthamoeba strains isolated from tap water, 68.4% of the strains from river water, and 40.4% of the seawater strains. Sequencing of ribosomal DNA revealed the T1, T2, T4, T5, T7, T9 and T11 genotypes. Isolates of the T4 genotype were collected from tap, rain and sea water and, as expected, exhibited the most pathogenic traits; most were osmotolerant, thermotolerant and expressing extracellular serine protease. This is the first study of the occurrence and distribution of Acanthamoeba in water in the West Indies, and the results confirm the presence of potentially pathogenic strains in Jamaica.

Isolation and genotyping of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba and Naegleria species from tap-water sources in Osaka, Japan

“…Detection of potentially pathogenic genotypes of Acanthamoeba spp. from river water has been reported from other research groups worldwide (Tsvetkova et al 2004;Lorenzo-Morales et al 2005a;Lorenzo-Morales et al 2006;Thomas et al 2008). To our knowledge, ours is the first investigation to confirm the presence of potentially pathogenic species of Acanthamoeba in the river waters of Japan.…”

“…and Acanthamoeba spp. ranging between 23% and 89% (Scaglia et al 1983;John and Howard 1995;Ettinger et al 2003;Sheehan et al 2003;Gornik and Kuzna-Grygiel 2004;Kilvington et al 2004;Tsvetkova et al 2004;Lorenzo-Morales et al 2005a;Lorenzo-Morales et al 2005b;Lorenzo-Morales et al 2006;Behets et al 2007;Shoff et al 2008), with some studies including molecular identification in their analysis (Huizinga and McLaughlin 1990;Sheehan et al 2003;Kilvington et al 2004;Tsvetkova et al 2004;LorenzoMorales et al 2005a;Lorenzo-Morales et al 2005b;Lorenzo-Morales et al 2006;Behets et al 2007;LorenzoMorales et al 2007;Thomas et al 2008). In a review by Karanis et al (2007) on the transmission of waterborne protozoan parasites, N. fowleri was reported in a large-scale outbreak associated with a contaminated swimming pool in the Czech Republic, and Acanthamoeba spp.…”

Soil Contamination With Free-Living Amoeba in North of Iran

“…The ability of these protozoans to survive and proliferate in nature, especially water, shows that they can be potentially pathogenic for humans and animals (7). According to the wide dispersion of protozoan, it is expected that many people are exposed to protozoan (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26); therefore, it seems that 80% of the people have antibodies against protozoa (27).…”

Amoebicidal Effects of Contact Lens Disinfecting Solutions

“…11 Higher levels of Acanthamoeba contamination have been reported in tap water samples from Spain (59%) 5 and Jamaica (30%). 6 Jeong and Yu 16 reported 5.8% Acanthamoeba in tap water in Busan, Korea. Use of tap water to rinse CL case may result in contamination with Acanthamoeba, which may in turn be transferred to the eye via a CL and possibly cause ocular infection.…”

“…They have also been isolated from contact lens (CL) cases, soil, dust, air, and air-conditioning units. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Acanthamoeba includes species pathogenic to humans causing meningitis and potentially sight threatening infections. Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is rare but has been reported worldwide in particular in CL wearers.…”