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Molecular detection and comparison of Acanthamoeba genotypes in different functions of watersheds in Taiwan

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 184, pages 4335–4344 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

The protistan genus Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba existing in various environments. Within this protistan genus, there are some species recognized as potential human pathogens, which may cause granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, Acanthamoeba keratitis and chronic granulomatous lesions of the skin. In this study, 211 water samples were collected from two watersheds in southern Taiwan. We detected Acanthamoeba based on the PCR amplification with a genus-specific primer pair and investigation of Acanthamoeba in Puzih River and Kaoping River in southern Taiwan. Acanthamoeba species were detected in 34 (16.1%) samples. The presence or absence of Acanthamoeba within the water samples showed significant difference with the levels of water temperature and total coliforms. The most frequently identified Acanthamoeba genotype was T4 (n = 19), followed by T5 (n = 8), and then T15 (n = 3). Genotype T6, T7/T8, T11 and T12 were all detected once. Genotype T4, T5, T6, T11 and T15 of Acanthamoeba are responsible for Acanthamoeba keratitis and should be considered a potential health threat associated with human activities in environmental surface water watersheds.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a research grant from National Science Council of Taiwan, R.O.C. (NSC 97-2628-M-194-001-MY3).

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi, Taiwan

    Po-Min Kao, Bing-Mu Hsu, Nai-Hsiung Chen, Kuan-Hao Huang, Chin-Chun Huang & Jung-Sheng Chen

  2. Research and Diagnostic Center, Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan

    Dar-Der Ji & Wei-Chen Lin

  3. Super Micro Mass Research and Technology Center, Cheng-Shiu University, Kao-Hsiung, Taiwan

    Shih-Wei Huang

  4. General Surgery, Surgical Department, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yi-Chou Chiu

  5. Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yi-Chou Chiu

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  1. Po-Min Kao
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  2. Bing-Mu Hsu
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  3. Nai-Hsiung Chen
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  4. Kuan-Hao Huang
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  5. Chin-Chun Huang
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  6. Dar-Der Ji
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  7. Jung-Sheng Chen
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  8. Wei-Chen Lin
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  9. Shih-Wei Huang
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  10. Yi-Chou Chiu
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Correspondence to Bing-Mu Hsu or Yi-Chou Chiu.

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Kao, PM., Hsu, BM., Chen, NH. et al. Molecular detection and comparison of Acanthamoeba genotypes in different functions of watersheds in Taiwan. Environ Monit Assess 184, 4335–4344 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2267-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2267-4

Keywords

  • Acanthamoeba
  • Free-living amoebae
  • Total coliforms
  • Acanthamoeba keratitis
  • Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis