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401612

DETECTION AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF AMOEBIC CONTAMINATION TO CONTACT LENSES AS A POTENTIAL PATHOGENIC THREAT CAUSING KERATITIS IN SAUDI ARABIA

Article

Last updated: 13 Jan 2025

OverviewSimilar Items

Subjects

-

Tags

Parasitology

Abstract

Acanthamoeba spp. is a potentially pathogenic free-living amoeba (FLA) that causes central nervous system infections in both humans and animals and is a significant cause of human keratitis, typically through contaminated water sources, soil, and contact lens solutions. The study aimed to investigate the contamination rate of contact lenses (CL) and their cleaning solutions with FLA, with a specific focus on Acanthamoeba as a potential health threat to Saudi Arabian contact lens wearers. A total of 105 samples of previously used contact lenses and their preservative solutions were donated by female students at Shaqra University, Saudi Arabia. Amoebae were isolated through culturing and morphologically identified using standard keys. Molecular identifications based on gene-specific PCR assays were also conducted for all positive cultures. Additionally, genotyping and phylogenetic analysis for Acanthamoeba isolates were performed. Of all the samples, 56.19% were infected with Acanthamoeba and Vahlkampfiidae Acanthamoeba spp. were detected in 76.3% of the positive cultures (n = 45), while Vahlkampfiidae contaminated 27 culture samples, either single or mixed infection, including Naegleria sp. Morphological identification revealed five Acanthamoeba species, namely Acanthamoeba castellenii, A. triangularis, A. polyphaga (group II), A. astronyxis (group I), and A. lenticulate (group III). Sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene revealed two strains: A. castellanii (T4 genotype) and A. polyphagia (T2 genotype). This report highlights the first identification of FLA contamination in contact lenses and cleaning solutions in Saudi Arabia. Efforts are needed to prevent Acanthamoeba contamination, and further studies should investigate potential environmental contamination with pathogenic FLA across Saudi Arabian governorates.

DOI

10.21608/avmj.2024.333203.1457

Keywords

Acanthamoeba, Contact Lens, Contamination, Phylogenic analysis, Saudi Arabia

Authors

First Name

HAIAM MOHAMED

Last Name

FARRAG

MiddleName

MAHMOUD

Affiliation

Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Al-Quwaiiyah 19257, Saudi Arabia and Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, 71515, Assiut, Egypt

Email

hayammahmoud@su.edu.sa

City

-

Orcid

0000-0001-8566-9157

First Name

SAMIA

Last Name

ALKHALIL

MiddleName

S.

Affiliation

Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Al-Quwaiiyah 19257, Saudi Arabia

Email

salkhalil@suedu.sa

City

الرياض القويعية

Orcid

-

First Name

MOHAMMED

Last Name

HAKAMI

MiddleName

AGEELI

Affiliation

Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Al-Quwaiiyah 19257, Saudi Arabia

Email

m.hakami@suedu.sa

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

MONA

Last Name

GABER

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, 71515, Assiut, Egypt

Email

monahadea@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

MARWA

Last Name

DARWISH

MiddleName

KAMAL

Affiliation

Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Al-Quwaiiyah 19257, Saudi Arabia and Chemistry Department (Biochemistry Branch), Faculty of Science, Suez University, Suez, 43518, Egypt.

Email

marwakamal@su.edu.sa

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

AMIRA

Last Name

BADAWI

MiddleName

ELTAYEB MUSTAFA

Affiliation

Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Al-Quwaiiyah 19257, Saudi Arabia

Email

amustafa@su.edu.sa

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

ALZAHRAA

Last Name

AHMAD

MiddleName

ABDELRAOUF

Affiliation

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, 71515, Assiut, Egypt

Email

zahraaabdelraouf@aun.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

-

Volume

71

Article Issue

184

Related Issue

52949

Issue Date

2025-01-01

Receive Date

2024-11-02

Publish Date

2025-01-01

Page Start

318

Page End

334

Print ISSN

1012-5973

Online ISSN

2314-5226

Article File

AVMJ_Volume 71_Issue 184_Pages 318-334.pdf

PDF . 1.0MB

Link

https://avmj.journals.ekb.eg/article_401612.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=401612

Order

401,612

Type

Research article

Type Code

1,840

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Assiut Veterinary Medical Journal

Publication Link

https://avmj.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

DETECTION AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF AMOEBIC CONTAMINATION TO CONTACT LENSES AS A POTENTIAL PATHOGENIC THREAT CAUSING KERATITIS IN SAUDI ARABIA

Details

Type

Article

Created At

13 Jan 2025