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18S ribosomal DNA genotypes of Acanthamoeba species isolated from contact lens cases in the Philippines

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Abstract

This study was carried out to document the genotypes of Acanthamoeba present in contact lens cases from 50 randomly selected contact lens wearers living in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Acanthamoeba species were isolated from eight (16%) in 50 contact lens cases examined. We analyzed partial 18S ribosomal DNA (Rns) sequences of the eight isolates and found that the sequence differences were sufficient to distinguish the genotypes. After the isolates were genotyped, using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool program, their phylogenetic positions relative to known Acanthamoeba isolates were determined. The model-based (GTR+Γ+Ι) neighbor-joining, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference analyses, as well as the non-model-based maximum parsimony analysis were used. Results showed that of the eight isolates, six were Rns genotype T5 while two were Rns genotype T4. This present study indicates that genotype T5 is also a common contaminant in contact lens storage cases.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported financially by a grant from the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) to W.L.R. The experiments conducted in this study comply with the current laws of the Philippines.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101, Philippines

    Windell L. Rivera & Davin Edric V. Adao

  2. Molecular Protozoology Laboratory, Natural Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101, Philippines

    Windell L. Rivera & Davin Edric V. Adao

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  1. Windell L. Rivera
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  2. Davin Edric V. Adao
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Correspondence to Windell L. Rivera.

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Rivera, W.L., Adao, D.E.V. 18S ribosomal DNA genotypes of Acanthamoeba species isolated from contact lens cases in the Philippines. Parasitol Res 105, 1119–1124 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1531-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1531-9

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