Acanthamoeba species are free-living amoebae causing granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and keratitis. This study aimed to identify Acanthamoeba isolated from air conditioning systems by culture method and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and testing its pathogenicity by thermo-tolerance and animal inoculation. Out of the 80 dust samples, 41 (51.25%) were found to be positive as Acanthamoeba spp. by culture method. These samples were confirmed positive by PCR. Regarding pathogenicity, out of 41 samples, 27 (65.9%) were thermo-tolerant and 16 (39%) samples could infect mice and caused histopathological effects. Highly pathogenic Acanthamoeba isolates were characterized by a thermotolerance ability and disseminated in all mice organs after infection causing early mice death. This work confirmed that the presence of pathogenic isolates of Acanthamoeba potentially infectious to humans in airconditioners.
Intestinal protozoan infection is a common zoonotic parasitic disease worldwide. Contaminated fresh vegetables and fruits are important sources of parasitic infections. This study identified the parasites infesting raw green vegetables and fruits and effect of some washing solutions to eliminate them.A total of 398/1000 samples of green vegetables and fruits collected from October 2020 to September 2021 were infested with intestinal protozoa. Contaminated parasites were diagnosed microscopic by stained smears and flotation of each materials sample separately. Lemon juice 10%, sodium salt solution 1.5% and vinegar 0.5% were used to control parasitic stages as com-pared to tap water & potassium permanganate solution 150ppm as standard ones.The commonest parasites were Entamoeba histolytica (19.2%) followed by Cryptosporidium parvum (18%). The most contaminated vegetables were watercress (64/113) followed by lettuce (56/99), with a significant seasonal variation in all parasites prevalence and incidence on plants. Vinegar 5%, lemon 10% & salt 1.5% gave highly significant lethal effect on all parasites as compared to water (P= 0.0001). Besides, potassium permanganate, lemon juice gave a significant lethal effect on C. parvum, but the sodium salt solution was only significant on E. histolytica, G. lamblia and Blastocystis hominis.
Acanthamoeba species (spp.) are opportunistic pathogens and they are a member of free-living amoebae (FLA). They cause granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE), a chronic disease of immunocompromised hosts such as acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients and transplant recipients. The present study was conducted to isolate and to identify Acanthamoeba spp. from various water sources. During the study period, 150 water samples were collected from various sources such as streams and ponds, tap water, tanks, swimming pools and Nile River water. All samples were processed and cultured on non-nutrient agar medium (NNA) with Escherichia coli overlay for the isolation of Acanthamoeba spp. Organism identifying was based on the microscopic morphology of cyst and trophozoites forms. Confirmation PCR was done to positive culture samples. The pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba spp. was analyzed by thermo-tolerance assay. Acanthamoeba spp. were detected in 84 (56%) out of the 150 examined water samples. The highest percentage of Acanthamoeba presence was observed in streams and ponds water (70.73%), followed by swimming pools water samples (60%) and Nile River water samples (66.67%) and the lowest was in tap water samples (37.5%). Out of 84 water samples positive by NNA culture, 72 (85.71%) samples were positive by PCR using specific primers for Acanthamoeba spp. Based on pathogenicity test assays, among 84 positive cultures, 39 (46.43%) were thermo-tolerant. This study was showing the distribution of Acanthamoeba spp. in various water sources in the environment. Also, this study confirmed that the high presence of pathogenic strains in recreational water could threat contact lens wearers.
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