title: Acanthamoeba castellanii: growth, encystment, excystment and biocide susceptibility.
abstract: Stages in the encystment and excystment processes of Acanthamoeba castellanii have been studied. The kinetics of encystment involved measurements of the three phases (pre-encystment, cyst initiation and cyst wall synthesis). Excystment, starting from a mature cyst, involved pre-emergence, penetration outwards of the cyst wall and free trophozoite. The sensitivity to biocides of trophozoites in the exponential growth phase, pre-encystment trophozoites, mature cysts and pre-excystment cysts has been investigated. Some differences in relative sensitivity to a bisbiguanide (chlorhexidine) and a polymeric biguanide (polyhexamethylene biguanide) were observed, but mature cysts were always the most resistant cellular form.
authors.affiliation: Welsh School of Pharmacy, University of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Khunkitti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Furr
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D001645:Biguanides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages
chemical_list: D001645:Biguanides; D004202:Disinfectants; C031233:polihexanide; D002710:Chlorhexidine