Acanthamoeba T3, T4 and T5 in swimming-pool waters from Southern Brazil

Acta Trop. 2011 Mar;117(3):233-5. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2010.12.008. Epub 2010 Dec 30.

Abstract

Species of Acanthamoeba, known to cause keratitis (AK) and granulomatous encephalitis in humans are frequently isolated from a variety of water sources. In this study, 13 Acanthamoeba isolates from swimming pools were classified at the genotype level based on the sequence analysis of the Acanthamoeba small-subunit rRNA gene. Nine of the 13 isolates were genotype T5, three were genotype T4, and one was T3. Several genotypes have been reported worldwide as causative agents of AK, including genotypes T3, T4, and T5. The present study indicates that genotype T5 is a common contaminant in swimming-pool water.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acanthamoeba / classification*
  • Acanthamoeba / genetics*
  • Acanthamoeba Keratitis / parasitology
  • Bacterial Typing Techniques
  • Brazil
  • Encephalitis / parasitology
  • Genotype
  • Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / parasitology
  • Humans
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis
  • Swimming Pools
  • Water Microbiology*

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S