title: Distribution of free-living amoebae in James River, Virginia, USA.
abstract: A comprehensive survey to document the presence of free-living amoebae was conducted along 58 km of James River, near Richmond, Virginia, USA. Sites included tidal and non-tidal freshwater areas, near 40 combined sewer outflows, three municipal wastewater treatment plant release sites, and thermal discharge from a coal-fired power plant. Amoebae were present on all collection dates, spring through autumn, and at all sites ( n=330). Five genera, Naegleria, Vannella, Acanthamoeba, Vahlkampfia, and Hartmannella were present in both the water column and sediment. The most common isolates from the water column were Naegleria and Vannella. Water conditions conducive to the presence of large quantities of fecal coliform bacteria were correlated with the prevalence of free-living amoebae. Some of the amoebae in this complex ecosystem can act as opportunistic pathogens, may play a role in diseases of aquatic organisms in this heavily urbanized river, and may present a risk to human health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1000 West Cary Street, P.O. Box 842012, Richmond, VA 23284-2012, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ettinger
authors.forename: Stanley R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Shelley A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: McIninch
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: C Garman
authors.forename: Bonnie L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000469:parasitology*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000469:parasitology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D016840:Lobosea / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D012722:Sewage / Q000469:parasitology; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage