Acanthamoeba spp. in domestic tap water in houses of contact lens wearers in the metropolitan area of Mexico City.
A survey was carried out in the metropolitan area of Mexico City to determine the presence of Acanthamoeba in the tap water of houses of contact lens wearers. Water samples were taken from the mains water entry, bathroom sinks and storage containers (roof tanks, cisterns) of 27 houses; and from the solution contained in the contact lens cases. Samples were filtered and cultured onto NNE medium. The isolates were identified based on their morphological features and pathogenicity. Total and fecal coliforms, water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and residual free-chlorine were measured by standard methods. Forty five isolates of Acanthamoeba from 200 water samples were obtained. The highest number of amoebae was isolated from cisterns and roof tanks. Most Acanthamoeba isolates were non-pathogenic, however, their presence in tap water is a potential hazard since some species can cause Acanthamoeba keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis.
Bonilla-Lemus
Patricia
P
Proyecto de Conservación y Mejoramiento del Ambiente, Laboratorio de Microbiología Ambiental, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico. blemus@servidor.unam.mx
Ramírez-Bautista
Gerardo A
GA
Zamora-Muñoz
Claudia
C
Ibarra-Montes
María Del Rocío
Mdel R
Ramírez-Flores
Elizabeth
E
Hernández-Martínez
María Dolores
MD
D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000469:parasitology*; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult