background: the free-living amoebae acanthamoeba spp. have been recognized as etiologic agents of amoebic encephalitis, keratitis, otitis, lung lesions and other skin infections mainly in immuno-compromised individuals. the purpose of this study is to detect the presence of acanthamoeba in swimming pools in egypt using a polymerase chain reaction (pcr) method. methods: water samples were collec...

Abstract Free-living amoebae (FLA) are protozoa dispersed in different environments and responsible for infections caused to humans other animals. Microorganisms such as Acanthamoeba spp., Vermamoeba sp., Naegleria sp. associated with diseases that affect the central nervous system, addition skin keratitis, occurs genus vermiformis. Due concerns of these FLA anthropogenic aquatic environments, ...

BACKGROUND Free-living amoebae such as Acanthamoeba species may act as carriers of Cryptosporidium and Toxoplasma oocysts, thus, may play an important role in the water-borne transmission of these parasites. In the present study, a loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for detection of Toxoplasma and a PCR assay were developed for investigation of Acanthamoeba in environmental wa...

The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the receptor system involved in controlling encystment in Acanthamoeba using specific agonists and antagonists and to examine whether endogenous stores of catecholamines are produced by the organism. Acanthamoeba trophozoites suspended in axenic growth medium were exposed to adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists to determine which compounds...

BACKGROUND Acanthamoeba spp. is a free-living opportunistic protozoan parasites, which can be found in tap, fresh and bottled mineral waters, contact lens solutions, soil etc. OBJECTIVES The present study is aimed to determine the Acanthamoeba spp. on the basis of their morpho-molecular aspects in different water sources of the West Azerbaijan province, Northwest of Iran. METHODS In this cr...

PURPOSE Topical steroids are frequently used to control corneal inflammation and uveitis or is administered after surgery, to prevent corneal graft rejection. This study was undertaken to determine whether steroids could affect the pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba castellanii. METHODS The effect of dexamethasone phosphate on excystment, proliferation, and encystment of trophozoites and cysts of ...

Acanthamoebae produce a painful, sight-threatening corneal infection. The adhesion of parasites to the host cells is a critical first step in the pathogenesis of infection. Subsequent to adhesion, the parasites produce a potent cytopathic effect (CPE) leading to target cell death. Recent studies showing that acanthamoebae express a mannose-binding protein (MBP) and that free alpha-mannose (alph...

We present evidence that native profilin can be purified from cellular extracts of Acanthamoeba, Dictyostelium, and human platelets by affinity chromatography on poly-L-proline agarose. After applying cell extracts and washing the column with 3 M urea, homogeneous profilin is eluted by increasing the urea concentration to 6-8 M. Acanthamoeba profilin-I and profilin-II can subsequently be separa...

Identification of Acanthamoeba cysts and trophozoites in ocular tissues requires considerable expertise and is often time-consuming. An 18S rRNA gene-based PCR test, highly specific for the genus Acanthamoeba, has recently been reported in the molecular diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis. This PCR assay was compared with conventional microbiological tests for the diagnosis of Acanthamoeba kera...