Characterization of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> Isolates from Dust of a Public Hospital in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

Costa, Adriana Oliveira; Castro, Edilene Alcântara de; Ferreira, Gabriela A.; Furst, Cinthia; Crozeta, Marcos A.; Soccol, Vanete Thomaz

doi:10.1111/j.1550-7408.2009.00453.x

Cited by 27 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Free-living amoebae belonging to genera Acanthamoeba (33), Vahlkampfia (1), and Hartmannella (3) were detected using morphological criteria and PCR-based methods. The extent to which FLA may be present in water systems of hospitals and therapeutic pools has been reported previously (Visvesvara et al 1990;Rohr et al 1998;Thomas et al 2006), but research on other sources is limited to a few studies worldwide (Carlesso et al 2010;Costa et al 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Resistance of Acanthamoeba cysts to cleaning products such as the chlorine-based disinfectants that are widely used in hospitals in Tehran allow amoebae to survive (Khan 2009;Costa et al 2010). Although chlorine is highly germicidal, Acanthamoeba cysts are very resistant to it (Khan 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…However, these earlier studies focused on only a single ophthalmology hospital and analyzed five dust samples of ophthalmology wards, which contained the Acanthamoeba T4 genotype (Niyyati et al 2009a). The present study was a comprehensive survey with 70 samples and also included biofilms as a potential source of proliferation of FLA. Airborne dust, combined with high levels of air pollution, is frequent in Tehran, enabling cysts to be transferred by visitors from outside to the indoor environment of hospital wards (Teixeira et al 2009;Chan et al 2011;Costa et al 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A possible source of Acanthamoeba, a potentially pathogenic FLA, is dust in the indoor environment (Niyyati et al 2009a;Carlesso et al 2010;Chan et al 2011;Costa et al 2010). Acanthamoeba cysts can withstand harsh and dry conditions and can be resistant to disinfectants (Greub and Raoult 2003;Marciano-Cabral and Cabral 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae isolated from hospital wards with immunodeficient patients in Tehran, Iran

et al. 2011

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This study investigated the occurrence of free-living amoebae (FLA) in immunodeficiency wards of hospitals in Tehran, Iran. A total of 70 dust and biofilm samples from wards serving transplant, pediatric (malignancies), HIV, leukemia and oncology patients of five university hospitals were collected and examined for the presence of FLA using culturing and molecular approaches. Based on the morphology of the amoebae in plate cultures, primer sets were applied for molecular identification of Acanthamoeba, vahlkampfiid amoebae and Hartmannella. Out of 70 samples, 37 (52.9%) were positive for FLA. Acanthamoeba belonged to the T4 genotype was the most prevalent isolate. Presence of the T4 genotype on medical instruments, including an oxygen mask in an isolation room of an immunodeficiency pediatric ward, should be of concern for health authorities. Acanthamoeba T5 genotypes, Hartmannella vermiformis, and Vahlkampfia avara were also present. These results highlight a clear need for greater attention to improved disinfection, especially where susceptible patients, such as those who are immune-suppressed, are served. To our knowledge, this is the first report of these FLA in immunodeficiency wards in Iran, and also the first to identify Acanthamoeba T5, Hartmannella, and Vahlkampfia in moist habitats, such as biofilms, in this country.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae isolated from hospital wards with immunodeficient patients in Tehran, Iran

et al. 2011

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“…The amoebae were detected in soil, water, animals, fruits and vegetable, air, dust, hospital environment, contact lens solutions, and eyewash stations as well as isolated from human body surfaces and various human tissues and cavities (Larkin et al 1990; Gray et al 1995; Van Hamme et al 2001; Chomicz et al 2002; Schuster and Visvesvara 2004; Lorenzo-Morales et al 2005b; Khan 2006; Carlesso et al 2010; Costa et al 2010; Stockman et al 2011; Kao et al 2012). The Acanthamoeba genus involves species that complete their life cycles in the outer environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The first genotype determination of Acanthamoeba potential threat to human health, isolated from natural water reservoirs in Poland

et al. 2014

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Different species of amoebae belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba are widely distributed in many parts of the world and known as free-living organisms. Some strains of the protozoans may exist as parasites and cause risk to human health as causative agents of serious human diseases. Currently, in Poland, there is no sufficient information about the distribution of Acanthamoeba strains and their genotypes in the environment. Therefore, 20 environmental surface water samples were collected from different sites located at five water reservoirs in Gdynia, Sopot, and Gdańsk (northern Poland). The material was cultured to obtain Acanthamoeba isolates that were then specifically analyzed with both PCR and real-time PCR assays. Of the 20 samples examined, Acanthamoeba DNA was found in 13 samples tested with the use of real-time PCR; in 10 of them, DNA of the amoeba was also detected using PCR technique. The comparison with sequences available in the GenBank confirmed that the PCR products are fragments of Acanthamoeba 18S rRNA gene and that isolates represent T4 genotype, known as the most common strains related to AK cases. This is the first investigation in Poland describing Acanthamoeba detection in environmental water samples with molecular techniques and genotyping. The results indicate that surface water in Poland may be a source of acanthamoebic strains potentially pathogenic for humans.

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Morphological and molecular identification of free living amoeba isolated from hospital water in Tunisia

et al. 2015

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Free-living amoebae (FLA) are opportunistic and ubiquitous protozoa that are widely found in various environmental sources. They are known to cause serious human infections. The aim of our study was to detect FLA and Acanthamoeba spp. in hospital water circuits. Eighty-four water samples were collected over a period of 4 months (September-December 2011) from different wards of the Sfax University Hospital (surgical services, intensive care unit, operating theater, and water storage tanks). FLA were detected in 53.5 % of samples as follows: surgical services (80 %), operating theater and surgical intensive care unit (13.3 %), medical intensive care unit (0 %), water storage tanks (6.6 %). The predominant morphotype was the acanthopodial (89 %). The others morphotypes were as follows: monopodial (40 %), dactylopodial (22 %), rugosa (62 %), eruptive (24 %), fan shaped (18 %), and polypodial (18 %). Acanthamoeba was found in 40 samples (47.6 %). 64.2 % of isolates were identified as Acanthamoeba spp. by PCR, using primers to amplify a region of 18S rDNA which showed variation in the product length. Sequence analysis of five PCR products identified Acanthamoeba sp. These isolates belong to T4, T10, and T11 genotypes, and to our knowledge this is the first report of the T10 and T11 genotype in Tunisia.The occurrence of potentially pathogenic FLA in the hospital environment may represent a health risk for patients, since these organisms can cause severe opportunistic illness and also can harbor pathogenic agents. Thus, increased awareness regarding these parasites and recognition of their importance, particularly in immunocompromised patients is crucial.

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Characterization of Acanthamoeba Isolates from Dust of a Public Hospital in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

Cited by 27 publications

References 28 publications

Potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae isolated from hospital wards with immunodeficient patients in Tehran, Iran

Potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae isolated from hospital wards with immunodeficient patients in Tehran, Iran

The first genotype determination of Acanthamoeba potential threat to human health, isolated from natural water reservoirs in Poland

Morphological and molecular identification of free living amoeba isolated from hospital water in Tunisia

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