Abstract
Free living amoebas are widespread protozoans that can be found in different environmental resources such as water bodies, soil and clays. Free living amoebae particularly Acanthamoeba could lead to diseases with poor prognosis including ameobic keratitis (AK) and granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) especially in contact lens wears and immunocompromised individuals, respectively. In the present study 50 samples were collected from water resources (hot-springs, cold springs, rivers, wells, refined drinking water and subterranean canals) of Kaleybar and Khodaafarin, East Azarbayjan Province, Iran. The samples were transferred to laboratory and cultured on 1.5% non-nutrient agar medium containing Escherichia coli bacteria at room temperature and finally examined by microscopic methods. The results showed that out of 50 water samples, 40% were positive samples for free-living amoebae (FLA) including 60% Acanthamoebae genus, %35 Haetmannellidae, %20 Valkamphiids, %20 Vannella, %10 Thechamoeba (45% of plates had mix contamination). The present research was the first study to address the presence of potentially pathogenic free living amoebae in Kaleybar and Khodaafarin, East-Azerbaijan Province.
Highlights
Free living amoebae including Acanthamoeba, Hartmannella, Vahlkampfia, Vannella and Naegleria are small amphizoic protozoan parasites which feed on natural environment contents such as bacteria and fungi
Discussion of Acanthamoeba species (12 samples out of 20 samples) were higher than others and the least occurance belonged to Thechameoba (2 samples out of 20 positive samples)
In addition present study suggests that different kind of water resources were contaminated to at least one amoeba, but the highest contamination was seen in rivers water with 4 positive samples out of a total of 5 samples
Summary
Free living amoebae including Acanthamoeba, Hartmannella, Vahlkampfia, Vannella and Naegleria are small amphizoic protozoan parasites which feed on natural environment contents such as bacteria and fungi. These organisms are resistant to extreme environmental conditions including unfavorable temperature, pH ranges and exposure to chemicals in cyst stage and they transfer to trophozoite when condition became favorable (Stockman et al, 2011) (Pelletier et al, 2011). Main routes of parasite entrance in GAE are cysts inhalation and contact of skin wounds with contaminated environmental sources (Marciano-Cabral et al, 2003)
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