Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran E-mail:
J Water Health. 2020 Feb;18(1):60-66. doi: 10.2166/wh.2020.191.
Free-living amoebae (FLA) include many genera which cause serious diseases such as sight-threatening keratitis, cutaneous ulcers and fatal encephalitis. This study was conducted due to the lack of research regarding genotypes Acanthamoeba, Naegleria and Vermamoeba in mineral springs of Guilan Province in northern Iran. Twenty-five water samples were collected from mineral springs in Guilan Province. After filtration through nitrocellulose membrane, samples were cultured on non-nutrient agar plates. The morphological key of Page was used to identify free-living amoebae (FLA) using an inverted microscope. Positive cultures were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genotypes based on the NCBI database. Eleven (44%) samples were positive for Acanthamoeba, Naegleria and Vermamoeba. By sequencing the positive isolates, the strains were shown to belong to Acanthamoeba castellanii (three case isolates belonged to T4 genotype), three cases of Vermamoeba vermiformis, and two cases of N. australiensis, two cases of N. pagei and one case of N. gruberi. According to our research the occurrence of Acanthamoeba, Naegleria spp. and Vermamoeba spp. in mineral springs could be hazardous for high risk persons. Regular monitoring and posting warning signs of these waters by health planners could prevent free-living amoebae mediated diseases.
自由生活阿米巴（FLA）包括许多属，可引起严重疾病，如威胁视力的角膜炎、皮肤溃疡和致命的脑炎。由于缺乏对伊朗北部吉兰省矿泉水中棘阿米巴、纳氏纳虫和Vermamoeba 基因型的研究，进行了这项研究。从吉兰省的矿泉中采集了 25 个水样。经过硝酸纤维素膜过滤后，将样品培养在非营养琼脂平板上。使用倒置显微镜通过 Page 的形态学关键来识别自由生活的阿米巴（FLA）。通过聚合酶链反应（PCR）和基于 NCBI 数据库的基因型分析阳性培养物。11（44%）个样本对棘阿米巴、纳氏纳虫和 Vermamoeba 呈阳性。通过对阳性分离株进行测序，菌株被证明属于棘阿米巴castellanii（三种分离株属于 T4 基因型）、三种 Vermamoeba vermiformis、两种 N. australiensis、两种 N. pagei 和一种 N. gruberi。根据我们的研究，矿泉水中棘阿米巴、纳氏纳虫属和 Vermamoeba 属的存在可能对高危人群构成危险。卫生规划人员定期监测这些水并发布警告标志，可以预防自由生活阿米巴介导的疾病。
