Isolation and molecular characterization of Acanthamoeba strains isolated from the oral cavity of immunosuppressed individuals in Tehran, Iran

Fatemeh Memari; Maryam Niyyati; Jacob Lorenzo-Morales; Zaynab Jonaydi

doi:10.1515/ap-2016-0060

Article

Isolation and molecular characterization of Acanthamoeba strains isolated from the oral cavity of immunosuppressed individuals in Tehran, Iran

Fatemeh Memari , Maryam Niyyati , Jacob Lorenzo-Morales and Zaynab Jonaydi

Published/Copyright: July 21, 2016

Published by

Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Author Information

From the journal Acta Parasitologica Volume 61 Issue 3

Abstract

Acanthamoeba spp. is an opportunistic protozoan parasite which is the causative agent of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) and Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). GAE usually occurs in immunocompromised patients which in most cases is fatal. The present study was conducted to determine the genotypes of Acanthamoeba isolated from patients with compromised immunological status. For this purpose, 90 samples from the oral cavity of these individuals were collected in different hospitals of Tehran, Iran using sterile cotton swabs. Samples were cultured in 2% Non-Nutrient Agar (NNA) plates in order to check for the presence of amoebae. Identification of isolates was carried out using both morphological and molecular tools. The pathogenic potential of the obtained strains was assessed by performing osmo- and thermotolerance assays as previously described. Genotyping of the isolates was carried out by PCR/sequencing of the DF3 region of the 18S rDNA gene of Acanthamoeba. From the 90 collected samples, 11 (13.4%) were positive for Acanthamoeba genus. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of genotypes T3, T4 and T11, although most of the isolates belonged to genotype T4. Only 3 of the isolates genotyped as T4 were positive for the pathogenic potential assays. To this end if the immunological status is considered as one of the key factors for the development of GAE due to Acanthamoeba in the previous reported cases, individuals suffering from the conditions mentioned in this study should be considered as a high risk group of population in Iran and worldwide.

Keywords: Immunocompromised patients; Acanthamoeba; genotypes; oral cavity

maryamniyati@yahoo.com

Acknowledgments

JLM was supported by the Ramón y Cajal Subprogramme from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competivity RYC-2011-08863. Thanks are due to Mr. Mahyar Mafi for his kind comments.

References

Cabello-Vílchez A.M., Martín-Navarro C.M., López-Arencibia A., Reyes-Batlle M., González A.C., Guerra H., Gotuzzo E., Valladares B., Piñero J.E., Lorenzo-Morales J. 2013. Genotyping of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains isolated from nasal swabs of healthy individuals in Peru. Acta Tropica, 130 C, 7–1. DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.10.006Search in Google Scholar

Cruz ARS., Rivera WL. 2014. Genotype analysis of Acanthamoeba isolated fromhuman nasal swabs in the Philippines. Asian pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 4, 827–831. DOI: 10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60206-6Search in Google Scholar

Corsaro D., Venditti D. 2010. Phylogenetic evidence for a new genotype of Acanthamoeba. Parasitology Research, 107, 233–8. DOI:10.1007/s00436-010-1870-6Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Dejonkheere J.F. 1980. Growth characteristics, cyto-patic effect in cell culture and virulence in mice belonging to 19 different Acanthamoeba SPP. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 39, 681–68510.1128/aem.39.4.681-685.1980Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Gast R.J., Ledee D.R., Furest. PA., Byers T.J. 1996. Subgenus systematic of Acanthamoeba: for nuclear 18s rDNA sequence types. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 43, 498–504. DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1996.tb04510.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Hewett M., Robinson B.S., Monis T.P., Saint C.P. 2003. Identification of a new Acanthamoeba 18s RNA Gene Sequence Type, Corresponding to the Species Acanthamoeba jacobsi Sawyer, Nerad and Vivesvara., 1992. Acta Protozoolgica, 42, 325–329. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2004.06.004Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Khan N.A., Jarroll E.L., Paget T.A. 2001. Acanthamoeba can be differentiated by the polymerase chain reaction and simple plating assays. Current Microbiology, 43, 204–208. DOI: 10.1007/s002840010288Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Khan N.A. 2006. Acanthamoeba: biology and increasing importance in human health. FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 30:564–595. DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2006.00023.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Khan N.A. 2007. Acanthamoebainvasion of the central nervous system. International Journal of Parasitology, 37, 131–138. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2006.11.010Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Khan N.A. (ED.). 2009. Acanthamoeba, biology and pathogenesis, 1st edn. Caister Academic, Great BritainSearch in Google Scholar

Lasjerdi Z., Niyyati M., Haghighi A., Shahabi S, Tahvildar Biderouni F., Taghipour N., Eftekhar M., Nazemalhosseini Mojarad E. 2011. Potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae isolated from hospital wards with immunodeficient patients in Tehran, Iran. Parasitology Research, 109, 575–580. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2288-5Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Lasjerdi Z., Niyyati M., Lorenzo-Morales J., Haghighi A., Taghipour N. 2015. Ophthalmology hospital wards contamination to pathogenic free living Amoebae in Iran. Acta Parasitologica, 60, 417–22. DOI: 10.1515/ap-2015-0057Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Lorenzo-Morales, J., Martín-Navarro, C.M., López-Arencibia A., Arnalich-Montiel, F., Piñero, J.E., Valladares, B. 2013. Acanthamoeba keratitis: an emerging disease gathering importance worldwide?. Trends in Parasitology, 29, 181–187. DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2013.01.006Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Lorenzo-Morales J., Khan N.A., Walochnik J. 2015. An update on Acanthamoeba keratitis: diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment. Parasite, 22, 10. DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2015010Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Marciano-Cabral F., Cabral G. 2003. Acanthamoeba spp. as agents of disease in humans. Journal of Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 16, 273-307. DOI: 10.1128/CMR.16.2.273-307.2003Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Memari F., Niyyati M., Haghighi A., Seyyed Tabaei S.J., Lasjerdi Z. 2015. Occurrence of pathogenic Acanthamoeba genotypes in nasal swabs of cancer patients in Iran. Parasitology Research, 114, 1907–1912. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4378-2Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Niyyati M., Lorenzo-Morales, J., Rezaie, S., Rahimi, F., Mohebali, M., Maghsood, A.H., Motevalli-Haghi, A., Martín-Navarro, C.M., Farnia, S., Valladares, B., Rezaeian, M. 2009. Genotyping of Acanthamoeba isolates from clinical and environmental specimens in Iran. Experimental Parasitology, 121, 242–5. DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2008.11.003Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Niyyati M, Rezaeian M. 2015. Current Status of Acanthamoeba in Iran: A Narrative Review Article. Iranian Journal of Parasitology, 10, 157–63. ReviewSearch in Google Scholar

Nuprasert W., Putapomtip C., Pariyakanok L., Jongwutiwes S. 2010. Identification of a novel T17 Genotype of Acanthamoeba from Environmental Isolates and T10 Genotype Causing keratitis in Thailand. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 48, 4636–4640. DOI:10.1128/JCM.01090-10Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Oddó, B.D. 2006. Infections caused by free-living amebas. Historical commentaries, taxonomy and nomenclature, protozoology and clinicopathologic features. Review. Chilena Infectol, 23, 200–214. DOI: 10/2006Search in Google Scholar

Qvarnstrom Y., Nerad T.A., Visvesvara G.S. 2013. Characterization of a new pathogenic Acanthamoeba species, A. byersi n. sp., Isolatedfrom a human with fatal amoebic encephalitis. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 60, 626–633. DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12069.Epub2013Search in Google Scholar

Siddiqui R., Khan N.A. 2012. Biology and pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba. Parasites and Vectors, 10, 5, 6. DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-6Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Schroeder J., Booton G., Hay J., Niszl I., Seal D., Markus M., Fuerst PA, Byers T.J. 2001. Use of subgenic18s ribosomal DNA PCR and sequencing for genus and genotype identification of Acanthamoeba from humans with keratitis and from sewage sludge. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 39, 1903–1110.1128/JCM.39.5.1903-1911.2001Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Todd C.D., Reyes-Batlle M., Piñero J.E., Martínez-Carretero E., Valladares B., Streete D., Lorenzo-Morales J., Lindo J.F. 2015. Isolation and molecular characterization of Acanthamoeba genotypes in recreational and domestic water sources from Jamaica, West Indies. Journal of Water and Health, 13, 909–19. DOI: 10.2166/wh.2015.232Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Visvesvara G.S., Moura H., Schuster FL. 2007. Pathogenic and opportunisticfree-living amoebae: Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris, Naegleria fowleri, and Sappinia diploidea. FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology, 50, 1–26. DOI:/10.1111/j.1574-695X.2007.00232.XSearch in Google Scholar

Received: 2015-10-30

Revised: 2015-1-16

Accepted: 2015-2-5

Published Online: 2016-7-21

Published in Print: 2016-9-1

You are currently not able to access this content.

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2016-0060

Keywords for this article

Immunocompromised patients; Acanthamoeba; genotypes; oral cavity