The Effectiveness of Gentamicin against Acanthamoeba Cysts in Vitro
- Author:
SA Noradilah
;
AG Mohamed Kamel
;
N Anisah
;
AR Noraina
;
S Yusof
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Acanthamoeba, sensitivity, gentamicin
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences
2012;8(2):51-54
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Acanthamoeba is a free-living protozoa which causes serious ocular problem. Acanthamoeba keratitis
is becoming more prevalent amongst contact lens wearers and it can cause loss of vision and blindness
if not treated properly. The objective of this research is to determine the effectiveness of gentamicin
against six Acanthamoeba spp. isolates, of which three were clinical isolates (HS 6, HKL 95, HTH 73)
and three environmental isolates (SMAL 7, SMAL 8, TTT 9). Cyst suspension from the chosen isolates
were exposed to gentamicin. After 48 hours of incubation at temperature of 30°C and 37ºC, each mixture
was filtered and filtration membrane was put onto non-nutrient agar laid with Escherichia coli. The agar
plates were incubated for three days at 30oC and 37oC and the plates were examined daily until day 14
to look for the presence of Acanthamoeba trophozoites under inverted microscope. The presence of
trophozoites indicated the ineffectiveness of gentamicin. Gentamicin was found to be effective against
Acanthamoeba cysts from all the test strains at both incubation temperatures. The minimum cysticidal
concentration (MCC) mean value of gentamicin was 0.193 mg/mL at 30oC and 0.229 mg/mL at 37oC.
So, we concluded that gentamicin has cysticidal potential towards Acanthamoeba.
