Abstract
Using agarose isoelectric focusing, the isoenzymes of 19 Acanthamoeba strains were investigated. They had been isolated from nasal mucosa, and the species identification based on morphology of the cyst had previously been reported. The identification by isoenzymes differed from that by cystic morphology. Growth at 40‡ C correlated with the species identification by isoenzymes. Six strains were identified as A. lenticulata, nine as A. mauritaniensis, one as A. rhysodes, and three belonged to the A. lugdunensis-A. quina complex. Several of the nasal A. lenticulata isolates proved to be highly virulent for mice.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cerva L, Serbus C, Skocil V (1973) Isolation of limax amoebae from the nasal mucosa of man. Folia Parasitol (Prague) 20:97–103
Daggett PM, Sawyer TK, Nerad TA (1982) Distribution and possible interrelationships of pathogenic and nonpathogenic Acanthamoeba from aquatic environments. Microb Ecol 8:371–386
De Jonckheere J (1980) Growth characteristics, cytopathic effect in cell culture, and virulence in mice of 36 type strains belonging to 19 different Acanthamoeba spp. Appl Environ Microbiol 39:681–685
De Jonckheere J (1983) Isoenzyme and total protein analyses by agarose isoelectric focusing, and taxonomy of the genus Acanthamoeba. J Protozool 30:701–706
Lawande RV, Abraham SN, John I, Egler LJ (1979) Recovery of soil amebas from the nasal passages of children during the dusty Harmattan period in Zaria. Am J Clin Pathol 71:201–203
Michel R, Rohl R, Schneider H (1982) Isolierung von freilebenden Amöben durch Gewinnung von Nasenschleimhautabstrichen bei gesunden Probanden. Zentralbl Bakteriol Parasitenkd Infektionskr Hyg Abt Orig Reihe B 176:155–159
Mirelman D, Bracha R, Wexler A, Chayen A (1986) Changes in isoenzyme patterns of a cloned culture of nonpathogenic Entamoeba histolytica during axenisation. Infect Immun 54:827–832
Molet B, Ermolieff-Braun G (1976) Description d'une amibe d'eau douce: Acanthamoeba lenticulata, sp. nov. (Amoebida). Protistologica 12:571–576
Molet B, Feki A, Haag R, Kremer M (1981) Isolement d'amibes libres par écouvillonnage nasal pratiqué chez 500 sujets sains. Rev. Oto-Neuro-Ophtalmol (Paris) 53:121–126
Page FC (1976) An illustrated key to fresh water and soil amoebae. Freshwater Biol Assoc Sci Publ 34:1–155
Pussard M, Pons R (1977) Morphologie de la paroi kystique et taxonomie du genre Acanthamoeba (Protozoa, Amoebida). Protistologica 13:557–598
Sargeaunt PG, Williams JE, Grene JD (1978) The differentiation of invasive and non-invasive Entamoeba histolytica by isoenzyme electrophoresis. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 72:519–521
Shumaker JB, Healy GR, English D, Schultz M, Page FC (1971) Naegleria gruberi: isolation from nasal swab of a healthy individual. Lancet ii: 602–603
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
De Jonckheere, J.F., Michel, R. Species identification and virulence of Acanthamoeba strains from human nasal mucosa. Parasitol Res 74, 314–316 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00539451
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00539451