Author/Authors :
BEHNIA, Massoud Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , HATAM-NAHAVANDI, Karim Infection Disease and Tropical Medicine Research Center - Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran , HAJIALILO, Elham Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Maryam NIYYATI Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Medicine - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , TARIGHI, Fatemeh Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , BAKHTIAR AKRAM, Azam Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , SALIMI, Mahboobeh Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , REZAEIAN, Mostafa Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Acanthamoeba spp. is potentially pathogenic free-living amoeba that can
exist in various water sources. The presence of this amoeba in water sources could be a
health hazard as Acanthamoeba could lead to severe diseases such as Acanthamoeba keratitis
and encephalitis. This study aimed to determine the genotypes of isolated Acanthamoeba
spp. in raw wastewater samples in Tehran, Iran.
Methods: Overall, 90 raw wastewater samples were collected from water treatment
facilities in west and south of Tehran, Iran during 2014-2016. Water samples were filtered
and cultured on non-nutrient agar (NNA) medium enriched with Escherichia coli.
Morphological and molecular analyses were done on positive strains. The pathogenic
ability of the isolated strains was determined using physical assays.
Results: Totally, 6 out of 90 (6.7%) samples were positive for Acanthamoeba, according
to morphological characteristics of double-walled cysts. Genotyping and sequencing of
the positive strains showed Acanthamoeba belonging to T4 (83%) and T11 (17%) genotypes.
In vitro pathogenicity tests were revealed that five isolates were classified as
non-pathogenic strains and one strain belonging to T4 genotype was classified as the
highly pathogenic amoebae.
Conclusion: The current research reflected a low contamination of wastewater
sources to Acanthamoeba. More studies regarding the contamination of wastewaters
before and after treatment are required in different places of the country.
Keywords :
Acanthamoeba , Genotype , Wastewater , Iran
