Acanthamoeba castellanii an environmental host for Shigella dysenteriae and Shigella sonnei.
The interaction between Shigella dysenteriae or Shigella sonnei and Acanthamoeba castellanii was studied by viable counts, gentamicin assay and electron microscopy. The result showed that Shigella dysenteriae or Shigella sonnei grew and survived in the presence of amoebae for more than 3 weeks. Gentamicin assay showed that the Shigella were viable inside the Acanthamoeba castellanii which was confirmed by electron microscopy that showed the Shigella localized in the cytoplasm of the Acanthamoeba castellanii. In conclusion, the relationship between Shigella dysenteriae and Shigella sonnei with Acanthamoeba castellanii is symbiotic, and accordingly free-living amoebae may serve as a transmission reservoir for Shigella in water.
Saeed
Amir
A
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Institute, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abd
Hadi
H
Edvinsson
Benjamin
B
Sandström
Gunnar
G
D048248:Acanthamoeba castellanii / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D050296:Microbial Viability; D012762:Shigella dysenteriae / Q000254:growth & development*; D012764:Shigella sonnei / Q000254:growth & development*; D013559:Symbiosis; D013696:Temperature