title: Free-living ameba contamination in natural hot springs in Thailand.
abstract: Thermo tolerant free-living ameba, Naegleria spp and Acanthamoeba spp contamination in natural hot springs in Thailand were carried out from 13 provinces. The temperature of hot springs water varied from 28 degrees-65 degrees C and pH from 6-8. We found that 38.2 % (26/68) of water samples were positive, Acanthamoeba was 13.2% (9/68) whilst Naegleria was 35.3% (24/68). Contamination by free-living ameba in natural hot springs may pose a significant health risk to people who use such water for recreation activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Amorn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lekkla
authors.forename: Chantira
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sutthikornchai
authors.forename: Somchai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bovornkitti
authors.forename: Yaowalark
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sukthana
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000818:Animals; D006294:Health Resorts; D045482:Hot Springs / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D009253:Naegleria / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013551:Swimming Pools; D013696:Temperature; D013785:Thailand; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply