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| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2016 | Volume
: 1
| Issue : 2 | Page : 1-5 |
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Isolation of acanthamoeba species from fresh water sources in southern regions of Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Mossa Al-Hakami1, Shubayli Hassan Al-Shehri2, Saud Mohammed Al-Shahrani2, Mohammed Abdullah Al-Qarni2, Ali Saeed Kadasah2, Saeed Abdulrahman Alghamdi2, Mohamed El-Amin Hamid1
1 Department of Microbiology and Clinical Parasitology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
2 Medical student, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| Date of Web Publication | 8-Aug-2020 |
Correspondence Address:
MBBS, MSc, PhD Ahmed Mossa Al-Hakami
Department of Microbiology and Clinical Parasitology College of Medicine, King Khalid University P.O.Box 641, Abha
Saudi Arabia
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of Acanthamoeba species and other FLAs in freshwater sources in southern regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to estimate the prevalence of their existence in these areas.
Methods: Water samples from both fresh water course and hot springs (n = 15) were collected from five different zones in Aseer region, southern western parts of the kingdom. Isolation and identification of Acanthamoeba species and other FLAs were carried out from these water sources (fresh water course and hot spring). The methods included filtration, in vitro culture and incubation for up to three weeks for the selected samples according to standard methods.
Results: Examination of water samples by direct microscopic methods showed no amoebic parasites among all of the 15 samples collected from five different sites. However, when the water samples were cultured on non-nutrient agar (NNA), four (26.7%) of the 15 samples showed growth of Acanthamoeba species. Principle component analysis (PCA) indicated that the water bodies/ sources that were positive for Acanthamoeba spp. shared a common natural characteristic that the water bodies were exposed to contamination.
Conclusion: The study demonstrated that Acanthamoeba spp. were prevalent in some sites (3 out 5 sites were positives; 60%), low in two sites (1 out 3 samples) while absent in two sites (0 out of six samples). More comprehensive research is needed to find out the true prevalence of these parasites and factors affecting their existence.
Keywords: Free Living Amoeba (FLAs), Acanthamoeba spp., non-nutrient agar (NNA)
How to cite this article:
Al-Hakami AM, Al-Shehri SH, Al-Shahrani SM, Al-Qarni MA, Kadasah AS, Alghamdi SA, Hamid ME. Isolation of acanthamoeba species from fresh water sources in southern regions of Saudi Arabia. King Khalid Univ J Health Scii 2016;1:1-5 |
How to cite this URL:
Al-Hakami AM, Al-Shehri SH, Al-Shahrani SM, Al-Qarni MA, Kadasah AS, Alghamdi SA, Hamid ME. Isolation of acanthamoeba species from fresh water sources in southern regions of Saudi Arabia. King Khalid Univ J Health Scii [serial online] 2016 [cited 2020 Oct 26];1:1-5. Available from: https://www.kkujhs.org/text.asp?2016/1/2/1/291739 |
| Introduction | |  |
Acanthamoebae are free-living aerobic amoebae and has a world-wide distribution. Acanthamoeba species have cysts and trophozoite stages in its life-cycle without the flagellated stage. The trophozoites replicate by mitosis. The trophozoite is 20-50μm in size with rough exterior with several spines like projections (acanthopoda) while the cyst is spherical (15μm in diameter). Equally these two forms can be the source of infection.[1],[2],[3],[4] A. polyphaga, A. rhysodes, A. astronyxis, and A. divionensis.
Acanthamoeba species along with its closely related free-living amoebae Balamuthia mandrillaris are causal agents of fatal chronic disease called granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE). This is particularly serious among the immunocompromised individuals. Furthermore, Acanthamoeba causes Acanthamoeba keratitis which is a vision-threatening disease. Both Acanthamoeba species and Balamuthia mandrillaris cause infections of the lungs and skin.[7],[8]
Acanthamoeba spp. are abundant in nature and have worldwide distribution. They have been isolated from soil, fresh and brackish waters, bottled mineral water and many other sources of human and animal use. Acanthamoeba species have are tolerant of a wide range of osmolarity, enabling them to survive in distilled water, tissue culture media, mammalian body fluids, and sea water.[5],[9]
| Methods | | |
| Study Location, Sampling, isolation, and Identification of Amoebae | | |
A total of 5 liters of water sample were collected in a sterile plastic container from five different sites at Aseer region [Figure 1]. Samples were transferred to the laboratory immediately. FLA was isolated from the samples as per recommended procedures.[6]
| Examination of water for parasite | | |
Water sample was mixed thoroughly and 12 mL was transferred to a clean tube and centrifuged at 1500 rpm for 10 min. The supernatant was discarded and a drop of sediment was placed on the centre of glass slide. A cover glass was placed and the slide was examined under 100X and with 400X magnifications to look for the presence of amoeba parasites. For iodine preparation, a drop of sediment was placed on centre of glass slide and a drop of iodine was added. Then a cover glass was placed and the slide before examination.
Smears were also prepared from the sediment and Giemsa staining was performed on methanol fixed, dried slides. 10% Giemsa stain was added and slide was left for 25 minutes. Slide was then washed with distilled water, dried and examined under 1000X magnification
Cultivation of Acanthamoeba spp
Water samples (approximately 5 liters were filtered through 0.45μm pore size cellulose nitrate membrane filter (47mm in diameter) under a vacuum. The membrane filter for each water sample was scraped and the collected materials were placed in 15mL of sterile cover tubes containing 10mL phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Tubes were incubated at room temperature overnight and then centrifuged for ten minutes at 1500rpm to collect particles on filters. After centrifugation, the supernatant solution was discarded and the pellet was inoculated onto 1.5% non-nutrient agar (NNA) plates. A dense suspension of heat inactivated Escherichia coli, prepared in saline was seeded onto NNA plates to grow amoebae. After the inoculation of the samples, all plates were incubated at 30°C and examined daily for the presence of FLAs for up to 15 days using a light microscope (100x).
Morphological characterization of Acanthamoeba isolates
Amoeba cysts that were isolated from culture were stained with haematoxylin/eosin[10] and were directly examined under the microscope and identified. Acanthamoeba cysts (Acanthamoeba sp. I to III) were established as per as known scheme.[11] Principle component analysis (PCA) was done to see whether water sources cluster with the presence of Acanthamoeba spp. PCA was done using PAST software (PAST Version 3.14; Øyvind Hammer, Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, 1999-2016).
| Results | | |
In this study out of five sites in Aseer, three sites demonstrated the presence of Acanthamoeba spp., whereas 2 sites were negative with all of the three testes used. The overall prevalence of Acanthamoeba spp. in the five sites was estimated to be 26.7% (4/15*100) [Table 1]. | Table 1: Detection of Acanthamoeba spp. in five sites in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia using microscopic and culture methods
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Examination of water samples by direct microscopic methods showed no amoebic parasites among all of the 15 samples collected from five different sites (Table 1). When the samples cultured on non-nutrient agar (NNA), four (26.7%) of the 15 samples showed growth of Acanthamoeba species and were demonstrated microscopically [Figure 2]. | Figure 2: Different Acanthamoeba spp. shown on NNA incubated at room temperature for 2 weeks
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PCA indicated that water sources that were positive for Acanthamoeba spp. shared a common natural characteristic. This included water sources exposed to contamination [Figure 3]. | Figure 3: Plot of water bodies/ sources against results of Acanthamoeba spp. Principle component analysis (PCA) was done using PAST software (version 3.14). Note the clustering of sites with positive Acanthamoeba spp. (A1, E1).
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| Discussion | | |
In the present study 26.7% prevalence of Acanthamoeba spp. was demonstrated microscopically from all 15 samples representing 5 geographical sites in Aseer region. NNA culture method has proven more sensitive than direct examination of the water deposits [Table 1]. FLAs are distributed worldwide and the composition of these species at certain locations depends on the surroundings. FLAs are getting increasing attention as reservoirs and potential vectors for the transmission of pathogenic bacteria.[12],[13] Studies have shown that the food-borne and opportunistic pathogens are able to interact with species of Acanthamoeba and more so in A. polyphaga. These pathogens multiply intracellularly within the FLAs and in theory able to spread in the environment and to contribute to food contamination.[14]
In the environment, there exist many genera of pathogenic protozoa of both human and animal origin but only limited information is available regarding these organisms in developing countries.[15],[16] The spread of FLAs species depends on its tolerance to survive under adverse conditions. Therefore, the ecological importance of FLAs must be adequately studied to prevent occurrence of fatal human diseases.[17],[18] The presence of FLAs in tap water may represent a health risk to both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals.[19] One of the earlier studies from this part of the kingdom has emphasized upon the hazards of water sources to human regarding the prevalence of Acanthamoeba spp. In their study, authors could isolate 33 strains of Acanthamoeba species from water sources at Wadi Hanifah, Saudi Arabia using non-nutrient agar with 1%NaCl added. The isolates were identified as A. astronyxis, A. comandoni, A. culbertsoni and A. quina. The optimum and maximum tolerated temperatures for the growth as well as the pathogenicity of each strain for mice were also recorded.[20] Acanthamoeba species are now becoming opportunists particularly in patients infected with (Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and a lack of effective therapeutic treatment represents a major problem and future emphasis must be placed on clinical trials dealing with the management of Acanthamoeba infections in patients with AIDS.[21]
The study concluded that Acanthamoeba spp. were common in some sites (66.7%) while absent or not detected in others or recorded low occurrence (33.3%). Further investigation covering larger area and sites is required to uncover the true prevalence and factors affecting the presence Acanthamoeba spp. in this part of the country.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Mr Salah Abdullah and Mr Ihab AbdelRahim for their kind help in laboratory work and technical assistance.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3]
[Table 1]
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