Badirzadeh A, Niyyati M, Babaei Z, Amini H, Badirzadeh H, Rezaeian M
Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Iran J Parasitol. 2011 Jun;6(2):1-8.
Free-living amoebae (FLA) are a group of ubiquitous protozoan, which are distributed in the natural and artificial environment sources. The main aim of the current study was to identify the presence of FLA in the recreational hot springs of Sarein in Ardebil Province of Iran.
Seven recreational hot springs were selected in Sarein City and 28 water samples (four from each hot spring) were collected using 500 ml sterile plastic bottles during three month. Filtration of water samples was performed, and culture was done in non-nutrient agar medium enriched with Escherichia coli. Identification of the FLA was based on morphological criteria of cysts and trophozoites. Genotype identification of Acanthamoeba positive samples were also performed using sequencing based method.
Overall, 12 out of 28 (42.9%) samples were positive for FLA which Acanthamoeba and Vahlkampfiid amoebae were found in one (3.6%) and 11 (39.3%) samples, respectively. Sequence analysis of the single isolate of Acanthamoeba revealed potentially pathogenic T(4) genotype corresponding to A. castellanii.
Contamination of hot springs to FLA, such as Acanthamoeba T(4) genotype (A. castellanii) and Vahlkampfiid amoebae, could present a sanitary risk for high risk people, and health authorities must be aware of FLA presence.
自由生活阿米巴（FLA）是一类广泛存在的原生动物，分布于自然和人工环境源中。本研究的主要目的是确定伊朗阿尔达比勒省萨雷因市休闲温泉中FLA的存在情况。
在萨雷因市选择了7个休闲温泉，在三个月期间使用500毫升无菌塑料瓶收集了28份水样（每个温泉4份）。对水样进行过滤，并在富含大肠杆菌的非营养琼脂培养基中进行培养。根据包囊和滋养体的形态学标准对FLA进行鉴定。对棘阿米巴阳性样本也采用基于测序的方法进行基因型鉴定。
总体而言，28份样本中有12份（42.9%）FLA呈阳性，其中棘阿米巴在1份样本（3.6%）中被发现，瓦氏阿米巴在11份样本（39.3%）中被发现。对单个棘阿米巴分离株的序列分析显示，其对应于卡氏棘阿米巴的潜在致病性T(4)基因型。
温泉被FLA污染，如棘阿米巴T(4)基因型（卡氏棘阿米巴）和瓦氏阿米巴，可能对高危人群构成卫生风险，卫生当局必须意识到FLA的存在。
