Abstract
This study investigated the occurrence of free-living amoebae (FLA) in immunodeficiency wards of hospitals in Tehran, Iran. A total of 70 dust and biofilm samples from wards serving transplant, pediatric (malignancies), HIV, leukemia and oncology patients of five university hospitals were collected and examined for the presence of FLA using culturing and molecular approaches. Based on the morphology of the amoebae in plate cultures, primer sets were applied for molecular identification of Acanthamoeba, vahlkampfiid amoebae and Hartmannella. Out of 70 samples, 37 (52.9%) were positive for FLA. Acanthamoeba belonged to the T4 genotype was the most prevalent isolate. Presence of the T4 genotype on medical instruments, including an oxygen mask in an isolation room of an immunodeficiency pediatric ward, should be of concern for health authorities. Acanthamoeba T5 genotypes, Hartmannella vermiformis, and Vahlkampfia avara were also present. These results highlight a clear need for greater attention to improved disinfection, especially where susceptible patients, such as those who are immune-suppressed, are served. To our knowledge, this is the first report of these FLA in immunodeficiency wards in Iran, and also the first to identify Acanthamoeba T5, Hartmannella, and Vahlkampfia in moist habitats, such as biofilms, in this country.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aitken D, Hay J, Kinnear FB, Kirkness CM, Lee WR, Seal DV (1996) Amebic keratitis in a wearer of disposable contact lenses due to a mixed Vahlkampfia and Hartmannella infection. Ophthalmology 103(3):485–494
Barete S, Combes A, De Jonckheere JF, Datry A, Varnous S, Martinez V, Ptacek SG, Caumes E, Capron F, Frances C, Gibert C, Chasidow O (2007) Fatal disseminated Acanthamoeba lenticulata infection in a heart transplant patient. Emerg Infect Dis 13(5):736–738
Carlesso AM, Artuso GL, Caumo K, Rott MB (2010) Potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba isolated from a Hospital in Brazil. Curr Microbiol 60(3):185–190
Cateau E, Imbert C, Rodier MH (2008) Hartmanella vermiformis can be permissive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Lett Appl Microbiol 47(5):475–477
Chan LL, Mak JW, Low YT, Koh TT, Ithoi I, Mohamed SM (2011) Isolation and characterization of Acanthamoeba spp. from air-conditioners in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Acta Trop 117(1):23–30
Costa AO, Castro EA, Ferreira GA, Furst C, Crozeta MA, Thomaz-Soccol V (2010) Characterization of Acanthamoeba isolates from dust of a public hospital in Curitiba, Parana. Brazil J Eukaryot Microbiol 57(1):70–75
De Jonckheere JF (2007) Molecular identification of free-living amoebae of the Vahlkampfidae and Acanthamoebidae isolated in Arizona (USA). Eur J Protist 43(1):9–15
Edagawa A, Kimura A, Kawabuchi-Kurata T, Kusuhara Y, Karanis P (2009) Isolation and genotyping of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba and Naegleria species from tap-water sources in Osaka, Japan. Parasitol Res 105(4):1109–1117
Ertabaklar H, Türk M, Dayanir V, Ertuğ S, Walochnik J (2007) Acanthamoeba keratitis due to Acanthamoeba genotype T4 in a non-contact-lens wearer in Turkey. Parasitol Res 100(2):241–246
Greub G, Raoult D (2003) Biocides currently used for bronchoscope decontamination are poorly effective against free-living amoebae. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 24(10):784–786
Khan NA (2006) Acanthamoeba: biology and increasing importance in human health. FEMS Microbiol Rev 30(4):564–595
Khan NA (2009) Acanthamoeba, biology and pathogenesis, 1st ed. Caister Academic
Kong HH, Chung DI (1996) PCR and RFLP variation of conserved region of small subunit ribosomal DNA among Acanthamoeba isolates assigned to either A. castellanii or A. polyphaga. Korean J Parasitol 34(2):127–134
Lorenzo-Morales J, Martínez-Carretero E, Batista N, Alvarez-Marín J, Bahaya Y, Walochnik J, Valladares B (2007) Early diagnosis of amoebic keratitis due to a mixed infection with Acanthamoeba and Hartmannella. Parasitol Res 102(1):167–169
Maghsood AH, Sissons J, Rezaeian M, Nolder D, Warhurst D, Khan NA (2005) Acanthamoeba genotype T4 from the UK and Iran and isolation of the T2 genotype from clinical isolates. J Med Microbiol 54(8):755–759
Marciano-Cabral F, Cabral G (2003) Acanthamoeba spp. as agents of disease in humans. Clin Microbiol Rev 16(2):273–307
Marciano-Cabral F, Jamerson M, Kaneshiro ES (2010) Free-living amoebae, Legionella and Mycobacterium in tap water supplied by a municipal drinking water utility in the USA. J Water Health 8(1):71–82
Niyyati M, Lorenzo Morales J, Rezaie S, Rahimi F, Mohebali M, Maghsood AM (2009a) Isolation and genotyping of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains from dust sources in Iran. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 103(4):425–427
Niyyati M, Lorenzo-Morales J, Rezaie S, Rahimi F, Mohebali M, Maghsood AH, Motevalli-haghi A, Martín-Navarro CM, Farnia Sh, Valladares B, Rezaeian M (2009b) Genotyping of Acanthamoeba isolates from clinical and environmental specimens in Iran. Exp Parasitol 121(3):242–245
Niyyati M, Lorenzo-Morales J, Rezaeian M, Martin-Navarro CM, Motevalli Haghi A, Maciver SK, Valladares B (2009c) Isolation of Balamuthia mandrillaris from dust, free of known infectious involvement. Parasitol Res 106(1):279–281
Niyyati M, Lorenzo-Morales J, Rezaie S, Rahimi F, Martín-Navarro CM, Mohebali M, Maghsood AH, Farnia S, Valladares B, Rezaeian M (2010) First report of a mixed infection due to Acanthamoeba genotype T3 and Vahlkampfia in a cosmetic soft contact lens wearer in Iran. Exp Parasitol 126(1):89–90
Page FC (1988) A new key to freshwater and soil gymnamoebae. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside, UK
Pelandakis M, Pernin P (2002) Use of multiplex PCR and PCR restriction enzyme analysis for detection and exploration of the variability in the free-living amoeba Naegleria in the environment. Appl Environ Microbiol 68(4):2061–2065
Pens CJ, da Costa M, Fadanelli C, Caumo K, Rott M (2008) Acanthamoeba spp. and bacterial contamination in contact lens storage cases and the relationship to user profiles. Parasitol Res 103(6):1241–1245
Qvarnstrom Y, da Silva AJ, Schuster FL, Gelman BB, Visvesvara GS (2009) Molecular confirmation of Sappinia pedata as a causative agent of amoebic encephalitis. J Infect Dis 199(8):1139–1142
Rezaeian M, Niyyati M (2011) Pathogenic free living amoebae in human, 1st ed. Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Rezaeian M, Farnia Sh, Niyyati M, Rahimi F (2007) Amoebic keratitis in Iran (1997–2007). Iran J Parasitol 2:1–6
Rohr U, Weber S, Michel R, Selenka F, Wilhelm M (1998) Comparison of free-living amoebae in hot water systems of hospitals with isolates from moist sanitary areas by identifying genera and determining temperature tolerance. Appl Environ Microbial 64(5):1822–1824
Sambrook J, Fristsch EF, Maniatis T (1989) Molecular cloning. A laboratory manual, 2nd ed. Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press.
Schroeder M, Booton GC, Hay J, Niszl IA, Seal DV, Markus MB, Fuerst PA, Byers TJ (2001) Use of subgenic 18S ribosomal DNA PCR and sequencing for genus and genotype identification of Acanthamoeba from humans with keratitis and from sewage sludge. J Clin Microbiol 39:1903–1911
Schuster FL, Visvesvara GS (2004) Free-living amoebae as opportunistic and nonopportunistic pathogens of humans and animals. Int J Parasitol 34(9):1001–1027
Spanakos G, Tzanetou K, Miltsakakis D, Patsoula E, Malamou-Lada E, Vakalis NC (2006) Genotyping of pathogenic Acanthamoebae isolated from clinical samples in Greece-Report of a clinical isolate presenting T5 genotype. Parasitol Int 55(2):147–149
Stockman LJ, Wright CJ, Visvesvara GS, Fields BS, Beach MJ (2010) Prevalence of Acanthamoeba spp. and other free-living amoebae in household water, Ohio, USA—1990–1992. Parasitol Res. doi:10.1007/s00436-010-2120-7
Teixeira LH, Rocha S, Pinto RM, Caseiro MM, Costa SO (2009) Prevalence of potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae from Acanthamoeba and Naegleria genera in non-hospital, public, internal environments from the city of Santos, Brazil. Braz J Infect Dis 13(6):395–397
Thomas V, Herrera-Rimonn K, Blanc DS, Greub G (2006) Biodiversity of amoebae and amoeba-resisting bacteria in a hospital water network. Appl Environ Microbial 72(4):2428–2438
Tsvetkova N, Schild M, Panaiotov S, Kurdova-Mintcheva R, Gottstein B, Walochnik J, Aspock H, Lucas MS, Muller N (2004) The identification of free-living environmental isolates of amoebae from Bulgaria. Parasitol Res 92:405–413
Visvesvara GS, Moura H, Schuster FL (2007) Pathogenic and opportunistic freeliving amoebae: Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris, Naegleria fowleri, and Sappinia diploidea. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 50(1):1–26
Visvesvara GS, Sriram R, Qvarnstorm Y, Bandyopadhyay K, Silva A, Pina NJ, Cabral GA (2009) Paravahlkampfia francinae n. sp. masquerading as an agent of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. J Eukaryot Microbiol 56(4):357–366
Acknowledgments
Dr. Maryam Niyyati was supported by a Research Grant from the National Elites Foundation for distinguished Young Assistant Professors. The present research was funded for a Masters degree by the project # 89-01-91-7075 from the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. The authors also acknowledge Lucidus Consultancy for editing the English language used in the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lasjerdi, Z., Niyyati, M., Haghighi, A. et al. Potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae isolated from hospital wards with immunodeficient patients in Tehran, Iran. Parasitol Res 109, 575–580 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-011-2288-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-011-2288-5