Identification and Distribution of Acanthamoeba Species Genotypes Associated with Nonkeratitis Infections

Overview

Journal J Clin Microbiol

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2005 Apr 9

PMID 15814986

Citations 94

Authors

Gregory C Booton

Govinda S Visvesvara

Thomas J Byers

Daryl J Kelly

Paul A Fuerst

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Acanthamoeba is a free-living protozoan genus found in a wide variety of natural habitats, including water, soil, and air. Pathogenic isolates of Acanthamoeba are medically relevant as the causative agent of sight- threatening Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), serious infections of other organs, and fatal granulomatous amebic encephalitis. Previous work employing DNA sequences of nuclear and mitochondrial small-subunit rRNA genes (SSU rRNA genes) determined the genotypic diversity of Acanthamoeba and found that many named species of Acanthamoeba are associated with particular genotypes. These studies also concluded that nearly all AK infections result from a single molecular genotype: T4. Here, we asked whether Acanthamoeba clinical isolates from non-AK infections are also associated with particular genotypes. DNA sequence determination of nuclear SSU rRNA genes was employed for genotypic identification of 29 isolates of Acanthamoeba from non-AK infections. Sequence analysis demonstrates that T4 is the predominant genotype in non-AK infections, including those in brain, cerebrospinal fluid, nasal passages, skin, and lung. Rare genotypes (T1, T10, and T12) have been isolated from brain infections. We conclude that genotype T4 is the primary genotype in non-AK Acanthamoeba infections, as was the case in AK infections. However, the genotypes that were isolated from brains have not been observed in environmental isolates of Acanthamoeba, and their natural ecological niche is unknown.

Citing Articles

Oxford Nanopore Technology-Based Identification of an Endosymbiosis in Microbial Keratitis.

Scharf S, Friedrichs L, Bock R, Borrelli M, MacKenzie C, Pfeffer K Microorganisms. 2024; 12(11).

PMID: 39597681 PMC: 11596929. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12112292.

Agar dehydration: a simple method for long-term storage of Acanthamoeba spp. collection at room temperature.

Leal Dos Santos D, Mussengue Chauque B, Matiazo F, de Miranda Ribeiro L, Rott M Parasitol Res. 2024; 123(3):153.

PMID: 38446221 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08172-7.

First Report of Isolation and Characterization of Acanthamoeba spp. from the Milk Used for Calf Feeding.

Bahrami S, Avarseji A, Zarei M, Haji Hajikolaei M Acta Parasitol. 2024; 69(1):609-615.

PMID: 38285086 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00805-2.

The First Case of Cutaneous Acanthamoebiasis Caused by in Korea.

Choi M, Myong N, Seo M, Jang S, Yun D, Yeom K Ann Dermatol. 2023; 35(Suppl 2):S275-S280.

PMID: 38061721 PMC: 10727879. DOI: 10.5021/ad.21.293.

Saline-Tolerant Pathogenic spp. Isolated from a Geothermal Power Plant.

Ramirez-Flores E, Bonilla-Lemus P, Carrasco-Yepez M, Ramirez-Flores M, Barron-Graciano K, Rojas-Hernandez S Pathogens. 2023; 12(11).

PMID: 38003827 PMC: 10674709. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111363.

References

Alves J, Gusmao C, Teixeira M, Freitas D, Foronda A, Affonso H . Random amplified polymorphic DNA profiles as a tool for the characterization of Brazilian keratitis isolates of the genus Acanthamoeba. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2000; 33(1):19-26. DOI: 10.1590/s0100-879x2000000100003. View

Walochnik J, Hassl A, Simon K, Benyr G, Aspock H . Isolation and identification by partial sequencing of the 18S ribosomal gene of free-living amoebae from necrotic tissue of Basilliscus plumifrons (Sauria: Iguanidae). Parasitol Res. 1999; 85(7):601-3. DOI: 10.1007/s004360050602. View

Tomlinson A, Simmons P, Seal D, McFadyen A . Salicylate inhibition of Acanthamoeba attachment to contact lenses: a model to reduce risk of infection. Ophthalmology. 2000; 107(1):112-7. DOI: 10.1016/s0161-6420(99)00055-x. View

Marciano-Cabral F, Puffenbarger R, Cabral G . The increasing importance of Acanthamoeba infections. J Eukaryot Microbiol. 2000; 47(1):29-36. DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2000.tb00007.x. View

Walochnik J, Obwaller A, Aspock H . Correlations between morphological, molecular biological, and physiological characteristics in clinical and nonclinical isolates of Acanthamoeba spp. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2000; 66(10):4408-13. PMC: 92317. DOI: 10.1128/AEM.66.10.4408-4413.2000. View

Walochnik J, Kolli H, Picher O, Obwaller A, Aspock H . Discrimination between clinically relevant and nonrelevant Acanthamoeba strains isolated from contact lens- wearing keratitis patients in Austria. J Clin Microbiol. 2000; 38(11):3932-6. PMC: 87520. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.38.11.3932-3936.2000. View

Horn M, Fritsche T, Gautom R, Schleifer K, Wagner M . Novel bacterial endosymbionts of Acanthamoeba spp. related to the Paramecium caudatum symbiont Caedibacter caryophilus. Environ Microbiol. 2001; 1(4):357-67. DOI: 10.1046/j.1462-2920.1999.00045.x. View

Schroeder J, Booton G, Hay J, Niszl I, Seal D, MARKUS M . Use of subgenic 18S ribosomal DNA PCR and sequencing for genus and genotype identification of acanthamoebae from humans with keratitis and from sewage sludge. J Clin Microbiol. 2001; 39(5):1903-11. PMC: 88046. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.39.5.1903-1911.2001. View

Gast R . Development of an Acanthamoeba-specific reverse dot-blot and the discovery of a new ribotype. J Eukaryot Microbiol. 2002; 48(6):609-15. DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2001.tb00199.x. View

10.

Walochnik J, Duchene M, Seifert K, Obwaller A, Hottkowitz T, Wiedermann G . Cytotoxic activities of alkylphosphocholines against clinical isolates of Acanthamoeba spp. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2002; 46(3):695-701. PMC: 127497. DOI: 10.1128/AAC.46.3.695-701.2002. View

11.

Booton G, Kelly D, Chu Y, Seal D, Houang E, Lam D . 18S ribosomal DNA typing and tracking of Acanthamoeba species isolates from corneal scrape specimens, contact lenses, lens cases, and home water supplies of Acanthamoeba keratitis patients in Hong Kong. J Clin Microbiol. 2002; 40(5):1621-5. PMC: 130944. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.40.5.1621-1625.2002. View

12.

Khan N, Jarroll E, Paget T . Molecular and physiological differentiation between pathogenic and nonpathogenic Acanthamoeba. Curr Microbiol. 2002; 45(3):197-202. DOI: 10.1007/s00284-001-0108-3. View

13.

Ledee D, Booton G, Awwad M, Sharma S, Aggarwal R, Niszl I . Advantages of using mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences to classify clinical isolates of Acanthamoeba. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003; 44(3):1142-9. DOI: 10.1167/iovs.02-0485. View

14.

Beattie T, Tomlinson A, McFadyen A, Seal D, Grimason A . Enhanced attachment of acanthamoeba to extended-wear silicone hydrogel contact lenses: a new risk factor for infection?. Ophthalmology. 2003; 110(4):765-71. DOI: 10.1016/S0161-6420(02)01971-1. View

15.

Marciano-Cabral F, Cabral G . Acanthamoeba spp. as agents of disease in humans. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2003; 16(2):273-307. PMC: 153146. DOI: 10.1128/CMR.16.2.273-307.2003. View

16.

Booton G, Rogerson A, Bonilla T, Seal D, Kelly D, Beattie T . Molecular and physiological evaluation of subtropical environmental isolates of Acanthamoeba spp., causal agent of Acanthamoeba keratitis. J Eukaryot Microbiol. 2004; 51(2):192-200. DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2004.tb00545.x. View

17.

De Jonckheere J . Growth characteristics, cytopathic effect in cell culture, and virulence in mice of 36 type strains belonging to 19 different Acanthamoeba spp. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1980; 39(4):681-5. PMC: 291404. DOI: 10.1128/aem.39.4.681-685.1980. View

18.

Cabot E, Beckenbach A . Simultaneous editing of multiple nucleic acid and protein sequences with ESEE. Comput Appl Biosci. 1989; 5(3):233-4. DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/5.3.233. View

19.

Sharma S, Srinivasan M, George C . Acanthamoeba keratitis in non-contact lens wearers. Arch Ophthalmol. 1990; 108(5):676-8. DOI: 10.1001/archopht.1990.01070070062035. View

20.

Chang P, Soong H . Acanthamoeba keratitis in non-contact lens wearers. Arch Ophthalmol. 1991; 109(4):463-4. DOI: 10.1001/archopht.1991.01080040023004. View