title: Isolation and identification of pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain from water sources.
abstract: A comprehensive survey to document the presence of free-living amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba was conducted in tap water and sea water sources related to human environments in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Acanthamoeba identification was based on the morphology of cyst and trophozoite forms and PCR amplification with a genus-specific primer pair. The pathogenic potential of Acanthamoeba isolates was characterized by temperature and osmotolerance assays and PCR reactions with two primer pairs related to Acanthamoeba pathogenesis. The results demonstrate the presence of potentially pathogenic strains in both sources. Thus, some of the amoebae in these aquatic habitats can act as opportunistic pathogens, could play a role in the diseases of aquatic organisms, and may present a risk to human health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, University of La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lorenzo-Morales
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ortega-Rivas
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Foronda
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Basilio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Valladares
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D001266:Atlantic Islands; D006801:Humans; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012623:Seawater / Q000469:parasitology*; D013030:Spain; D013696:Temperature; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014867:Water / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D037521:Virulence Factors; D014867:Water