title: Evaluation of Acanthamoeba isolates from environmental sources in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
abstract: Tests for potentially pathogenic amoebae were carried out in order to determine the presence of free-living amoebae of genus Acanthamoeba in soil and beach sand 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 pathogenical 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 potential pathogenic strain in both sources. Thus, some of the amoebae found in these habitats could act as opportunistic pathogens and may present a risk to human health.
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. jmlorenz@ull.es
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lorenzo-Morales
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Monteverde-Miranda
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tejedor
authors.forename: Basilio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Valladares
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ortega-Rivas
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*; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*; D013030:Spain; D013696:Temperature; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014867:Water / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D037521:Virulence Factors; D014867:Water