Shokri Azar, Sarvi Shahabeddin, Daryani Ahmad, Sharif Mehdi
Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Sari Medical School, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran Province, 48175-1683, Iran.
Toxoplasmosis Research Center (TRC), Sari Medical School, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran Province, 48175-1665, Iran.
Korean J Parasitol. 2016 Aug;54(4):447-53. doi: 10.3347/kjp.2016.54.4.447. Epub 2016 Aug 31.
Acanthamoeba, a free-living amoeba, is widely distributed in the environment, water sources, soil, dust, and air. It can cause keratitis in contact lens wearers with poor hygiene and also fatal granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) in immunocompromised hosts. The aim of this study was to gain some insights into the distribution and genotypes of the potentially pathogenic species of Acanthamoeba present in water sources in north of Iran. Total 43 Acanthamoeba species were isolated from 77 water samples taken from different water sources within the Mazandaran province in Northern Iran (Sari city and suburbs). Isolates were identified based on cyst and trophozoite morphological characteristics as well genetics. PCR fragments corresponding to the small-subunit 18S rRNA gene were sequenced for 20 of 43 positive isolates. The results revealed that 83.3% of sequenced isolates belonged to the T4 genotype and the rest belonged to the T2 genotype. Our results indicated that Acanthamoeba is widely distributed in Sari city. As the incidence in Iran of amoebic keratitis has increased in recent years, the exact estimation of the prevalence of this amoeba and its predominant genotype may play a crucial role in prevention of the disease. Sari city has several rivers, seashores, and natural recreational amenities, which attract visitors during the year. This is the first report of Acanthamoeba genotypes from water sources in Sari city, Mazandaran province of Iran, and the results suggest that more attention is needed to protect the visiting population and immunocompromised individuals.
棘阿米巴是一种自由生活的变形虫，广泛分布于环境、水源、土壤、灰尘和空气中。它可导致卫生习惯差的隐形眼镜佩戴者患角膜炎，也可导致免疫功能低下宿主患致命的肉芽肿性阿米巴脑炎（GAE）。本研究的目的是深入了解伊朗北部水源中存在的潜在致病棘阿米巴物种的分布和基因型。从伊朗北部马赞德兰省（萨里市及其郊区）不同水源采集的77份水样中，共分离出43株棘阿米巴物种。根据包囊和滋养体的形态特征以及遗传学对分离株进行鉴定。对43株阳性分离株中的20株进行了对应小亚基18S rRNA基因的PCR片段测序。结果显示，83.3%的测序分离株属于T4基因型，其余属于T2基因型。我们的结果表明棘阿米巴在萨里市广泛分布。由于近年来伊朗阿米巴角膜炎的发病率有所上升，准确估计这种变形虫的流行率及其主要基因型可能对预防该病起着关键作用。萨里市有几条河流、海滨和自然休闲设施，全年吸引游客。这是伊朗马赞德兰省萨里市水源中棘阿米巴基因型的首次报告，结果表明需要更多关注来保护来访人群和免疫功能低下的个体。
