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87814

Distribution of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba isolates in the environment of Helwan University, Egypt

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Last updated: 01 Jan 2025

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Abstract

Acanthamoeba species are free-living amoebae having worldwide distribution. These amoebae can cause granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and amoebic keratitis in humans. They can produce proteases that are considered virulence factors. Acanthamoeba can also harbor pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The objective of this study is to evaluate the presence of Acanthamoeba in the environment of Helwan University, Egypt. Six types of samples (tap water, irrigation water, wastewater, swabs from surfaces, soil, and air) were collected, processed, and cultured on non-nutrient agar medium. Positive plates for Acanthamoeba were subcultured, purified and amoebae were identified morphologically and confirmed by PCR using Acanthamoeba genus-specific primers. Obtained results declared that members of genus Acanthamoeba were detected in 91.7, 83.3, 54.2, 45.8, 12.5 and 12.5% of irrigation water, soil, swabs, wastewater, tap water, and air samples, respectively. The morphologically identified Acanthamoeba species proved to be related to genus Acanthamoeba when tested by PCR. Statistically, the sampling source had a strong significant correlation with the prevalence of Acanthamoeba. The highest appearance of Acanthamoeba was recorded in the spring season for samples from irrigation water, soil, and swabs from surfaces. In conclusion, the high prevalence of Acanthamoeba species in irrigation water and soil exert public health hazards to students and workers in Helwan University. 

DOI

10.21608/ejabf.2020.87814

Keywords

Acanthamoeba, environment, Helwan University, Egypt

Authors

First Name

Heba

Last Name

Koteit

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Email

hebakoteit@yahoo.com

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Orcid

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First Name

Shehata

Last Name

E. Elowa

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Orcid

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First Name

Ahmad

Last Name

Z. Al-Herrawy

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Volume

24

Article Issue

3

Related Issue

13076

Issue Date

2020-05-01

Receive Date

2020-01-03

Publish Date

2020-05-01

Page Start

61

Page End

73

Print ISSN

1110-6131

Online ISSN

2536-9814

Link

https://ejabf.journals.ekb.eg/article_87814.html

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https://ejabf.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=87814

Order

6

Type

Original Article

Type Code

103

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries

Publication Link

https://ejabf.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Distribution of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba isolates in the environment of Helwan University, Egypt

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Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023