Abstract
Eye diseases caused by amoebae from the genus Acanthamoeba are usually chronic and severe, and their treatment is prolonged and not very effective. The difficulties associated with therapy have led to attempts at finding alternative treatment methods. Particularly popular is searching for cures among drugs made of plants. However, no substances with total efficacy in treating Acanthamoeba keratitis have been identified.Results of our semi in vivo studies of tea tree oil simulating eyeball infection demonstrated 100% effectiveness in the case of both trophozoites and cysts of amoebae from the genus Acanthamoeba. The action of tea tree oil indicates that this is the first substance with a potential ability to quickly and effectively remove the amoebae from the eye. Tea tree oil has the ability to penetrate tissues, which allows it to destroy amoebae in both the shallow and deep layers of the cornea. The present research into the use of tea tree oil in the therapy of Acanthamoeba infection is the first study of this type in parasitology. It offers tremendous potential for effective treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis and other diseases caused by these protozoa.
Highlights
Free-living amoebae are the object of interest of scientists including biologists and medical doctors, geneticists, microbiologists, cytologists and phitopharmacologists
The studied material is a natural oil of the tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden & Betche) Cheel obtained in the process of steam distillation of fresh leaves and branches of this shrub growing in Australia
The effect of tea tree oil was tested in vitro and in vivo on the Ac55 strain of Acanthamoeba castellanii—isolated from a patient with Acanthamoeba keratitis, genotype T4 GenBank: KP120880, invading both the lungs and the brain of laboratory animals, which is representative for pathogenic strains (Derda et al 2015)
Summary
Free-living amoebae are the object of interest of scientists including biologists and medical doctors, geneticists, microbiologists, cytologists and phitopharmacologists. Such a wide group of persons researching amoebae from the genus Acanthamoeba is due, above all, to the potentially pathogenic properties of amoebae capable of causing very serious diseases and problems associated with their treatment. Freeliving amoebae from the genus Acanthamoeba are the aetiological factor in many disorders. They cause Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) and inflammation of the lungs (AP) and other tissues (such as the skin, adrenal glands, mandible, ears). In the few years, only a small number of AK cases were described, but the morbidity quickly rose after 1981
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
