Determining the genotype of Acanthamoeba strains isolated from the oral and nasal cavities of individuals with immune system defects

Alasvand Javadi, Roya; Tavalla, Mehdi; Beiromvand, Molouk; Razzaghi, Samira; Arjmand, Reza

doi:10.22118/jsmj.2021.243882.2181

Determining the genotype of Acanthamoeba strains isolated from the oral and nasal cavities of individuals with immune system defects

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

roya Alasvand Javadi

Mehdi Tavalla ¹

molouk beiromvand ²

samira Razzaghi ³

reza arjmand ⁴

¹ Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

² Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

³ Department of oncology , Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

⁴ 2.Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

10.22118/jsmj.2021.243882.2181

Abstract

Background and Aim : Acanthamoeba can cause serious human diseases such as amoebic keratitis/granulomatous encephalitis/which is most common in immunocompromised individuals. The present study investigated the genotype of Acanthamoeba strains isolated from the oral and nasal cavities of immunocompromised individuals.
Methods: Throat and nasal secretions of 179 patients with immunodeficiency syndrome were sampled by swap and after transfer to the laboratory of the parasitology department of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, were cultured in basic agar medium and positive samples were used for molecular testing.
Results: Out of 179 patients, 6 samples were positive for amoeba and all positive cases were sequenced and all six known strains were T4 genotype. There was a statistically significant difference between positive samples of pharyngeal secretions (4%) and positive samples of nasal secretions (1.5%). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the rate of infection with Acanthamoeba parasite in the study population is higher than other individuals.

Keywords

Acanthamoeba

Free-living amoebae

Oral and nasal cavities

Immune deficient individuals

Subjects