Identification and Genotypic Characterization of Potentially Pathogenic Acanthamoeba Isolated from Tap Water in Wuxi, China
10.3347/kjp.2018.56.6.615
- Author:
Meixu WANG
1
;
Guangxu SUN
;
Yangkai SUN
;
Xiaomin YOU
;
Xiaoxue LI
;
Yang CHENG
;
Yinghua XUAN
Author Information
1. Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, P.R. China. yhxuan@jiangnan.edu.cn
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords:
Acanthamoeba;
tap water;
Wuxi
- MeSH:
Acanthamoeba;
China;
DNA, Ribosomal;
Encephalitis;
Genotype;
Keratitis;
Phylogeny;
Prevalence;
Public Health;
Trees;
Viperidae;
Water
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2018;56(6):615-618
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Members of genus Acanthamoeba are widely distributed in the environment. Some are pathogenic and cause keratitis and fatal granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. In this study, we isolated an Acanthamoeba CJW/W1 strain from tap water in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China. Its 18S rDNA was sequenced and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. The isolated cysts belonged to morphologic group II. Comparison of 18S rDNA sequences of CJW/W1 strain and other isolates showed high similarity (99.7%) to a clinical isolate Asp, KA/E28. A phylogeny analysis confirmed this isolate belonged to the pathogenic genotype T4, the most common strain associated with Acanthamoeba-related diseases. This is the first report of an Acanthamoeba strain isolated from tap water in Wuxi, China. Acanthamoeba could be a public health threat to the contact lens wearers and, therefore, its prevalence should be monitored.
