Faculty of Science, Department of Microbiology, Taiz University, Taiz, Yemen.
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
PLoS One. 2021 Nov 15;16(11):e0259847. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259847. eCollection 2021.
Acanthamoeba spp. are one of the free-living amoeba that spread worldwide causing keratitis. Owing to the increase in the use of lenses, whether for medical or cosmetic purposes, the incidence of disease increases every year. Contamination of the lenses with the Acanthamoeba trophozoites or cysts may lead to eye infection and cause sight-threatening keratitis in human. We isolated Acanthamoeba spp. from new lenses, used lenses, and contact lens disinfecting solutions and identified them based on morphological characteristics and molecular test.
New and used lenses and contact lens disinfecting solutions were cultured on monogenic media. Light and scanning electron microscope was used to identify Acanthamoeba spp. morphological features. Genotype identification was also evaluated using PCR sequencing of 18S rRNA gene specific primer pair JDP1 and JDP2.
A hundred samples were examined, 29 (29%) were infected with Acanthamoeba spp. That belonged to two strains of Acanthamoeba (Acanthamoeba 41 and Acanthamoeba 68). 18S rRNA of the Acanthamoeba 41 had 99.69% sequence identity to Acanthamoeba castellanii clone HDU-JUMS-2, whereas Acanthamoeba 68 had 99.74% similar pattern to that of Acanthamoeba sp. isolate T4 clone ac2t4 that are morphologically identified as Acanthamoeba polyphaga. The obtained data revealed that the isolated strains belong to T4 genotype that was evolutionarily similar to strains isolated in Iran.
Cosmetic lenses and disinfectant solutions are a major transmissible mode for infection. This genotype is common as the cause of Acanthamoeba keratitis. To avoid infection, care must be taken to clean the lenses and their preservative solutions and prevent contamination with the parasite.
棘阿米巴属是一种自由生活的阿米巴原虫，分布广泛，可引起角膜炎。由于镜片的使用增加，无论是出于医疗还是美容目的，疾病的发病率每年都在增加。镜片被棘阿米巴滋养体或包囊污染可能导致眼部感染，并导致人类视力威胁性角膜炎。我们从新镜片、使用过的镜片和隐形眼镜消毒剂中分离出棘阿米巴属，并根据形态特征和分子检测对其进行鉴定。
将新镜片和使用过的镜片以及隐形眼镜消毒剂接种在单基因培养基上进行培养。使用光镜和扫描电子显微镜观察棘阿米巴属的形态特征。还通过 18S rRNA 基因特异性引物 JDP1 和 JDP2 的 PCR 测序评估基因型鉴定。
共检查了 100 个样本，其中 29 个（29%）感染了棘阿米巴属，属于两种棘阿米巴属（棘阿米巴 41 和棘阿米巴 68）。棘阿米巴 41 的 18S rRNA 与棘阿米巴属克隆 HDU-JUMS-2 的序列同源性为 99.69%，而棘阿米巴 68 与棘阿米巴 sp. 分离株 T4 克隆 ac2t4 的相似性模式为 99.74%，这两种分离株在形态上被鉴定为多态棘阿米巴。获得的数据表明，分离株属于 T4 基因型，与在伊朗分离的菌株在进化上相似。
美容镜片和消毒剂是主要的感染传播方式。这种基因型是棘阿米巴角膜炎的常见原因。为了避免感染，必须注意清洁镜片及其防腐剂，并防止寄生虫污染。
