Acanthamoeba castellaniiPromotion of In Vitro Survival and Transmission of Coxsackie B3 Viruses

Abstract

This work was undertaken to determine whether Acanthamoeba could play a role in the survival and transmission of coxsackieviruses and focused on in vitro interactions between Acanthamoeba castellanii and coxsackie B3 viruses (CVB-3). Residual virus titer evaluations and immunofluorescence experiments revealed a remarkable CVB-3 adsorption on amoeba surfaces and accumulation inside cells. The survival of viruses was independent of the dynamics of amoeba replication and encystment. In addition, our results indicated that virus-infected amoebas can release infectious viruses during interaction with human macrophages. On the basis of these data, Acanthamoeba appears to be a potential promoter of the survival of coxsackieviruses and their transmission to human hosts.Free-living amoebas of the genus Acanthamoeba are ubiquitous in nature (34); they have been isolated from air (19, 32, 33), soil (2, 3, 6, 29), and water environments, including chlorinated swimming pools (10), drinking water (17, 28), cooling towers (5), natural thermal water (31), hospital water networks (35), and marine water (4). Acanthamoeba is characterized by a feeding and replicating trophozoitic stage which under adverse conditions can develop to a dormant cyst stage (34). Cysts are highly resistant forms capable of withstanding disinfection, desiccation, and extremes of temperature. When favorable conditions occur, the cysts hatch and the trophozoites emerge to feed and replicate. Acanthamoeba species are not parasites, as they do not require the infection of a host organism to complete their life cycles (11, 37). However, these amoebae can infect a variety of mammals, including humans, thereby producing severe and often fatal diseases. They act as opportunistic as well as nonopportunistic pathogens, are the causative agents of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and amoebic keratitis, and have been associated with cutaneous lesions and sinusitis (18,20,(37)(38)(39). Both trophozoites and cysts have been shown to be resistant to chlorination used for disinfecting water systems (30,35,36).In addition, Acanthamoeba amoebas play a role as reservoirs for Legionella pneumophila and other amoeba-resistant microorganisms that include bacteria, fungi, and viruses (15).Enteroviruses (polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and newer enteroviruses) are naked small RNA viruses of the Picornaviridae family. They are important human pathogens often causing mild febrile illness, but clinical manifestations of enterovirus infections also include meningitis, encephalitis, paralysis, and myocarditis (16,27). Gastrointestinal involvement may also result. Transmission from person to person proceeds through the fecal-oral route. These viruses are widespread in marine water and also may be acquired by eating contaminated aquatic organisms (14). Although labile, they may persist in free-flowing estuarine or marine waters for several months and in some cases during the winter months (21). Although their life span in water may be prolonged by the influence of estu...

Detection and quantification of human adenovirus genomes in Acanthamoeba isolated from swimming pools

“…The results are summarized in Table I (Sepp et al 1992, Benyahya et al 1997, and coxsackieviruses (Mattana et al 2006). In the present study, HAdVs were detected in 62.5% of Acanthamoeba isolates recovered from environmental samples (62.5%), a detection rate higher than that previously reported in Spain (14.4% of isolates).…”

“…Studies on the relationship between viruses and free-living amoebae emerged in the early 1980s, when Danes and Cerva (1981) demonstrated an association between echoviruses and amoebae. Mattana et al (2006) …”

Free living amoebae in water environment: health implications

“…È stato dimostrato che anche alcuni enterovirus patogeni per l'uomo interagiscono con i protozoi. In uno studio, coxackie virus b3 è risultato in grado di sopravvivere all'interno dei trofozoiti di Entamoeba castellani risultando infettivo anche dopo un periodo di sei mesi caratterizzati da successivi cicli di excistazione -incistazione (43). Nel 2003 da un ceppo di Acanthamoeba, è stato isolato un virus di grandi dimensioni mai descritto prima, denominato mimivirus Acanthamoeba polyphaga, che successivi studi hanno indicato come potenziale causa di polmoniti (31,32).…”

Autoimmunity in the Mediation of Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis: Implications for Therapy

“…Recently, it is proposed that Acanthamoebae might play a role in the increased incidence of nosocomial infections (Michel, et al, 1995, Marciano-Cabral & Cabral, 2003 (Marciano-Cabral & Cabral, 2003, Waldner, et al, 2004, Khan, 2006, Mattana, et al, 2006, Thomas, et al, 2009. Bacteria grown in Acanthamoeba show resistance to bactericides and biocides; their survival and virulence are enhanced; and they mechanically transport disease-producing agents to various target organs, thus increasing the risk of multiple infections in the affected patients (King, et al, 1988, Barker, et al, 1995, Turner, et al, 2000, Lloyd, et al, 2001, Marciano-Cabral & Cabral, 2003.…”