title: Genotypic heterogeneity based on 18S-rRNA gene sequences among Acanthamoeba isolates from clinical samples in Italy.
abstract: Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is an ocular disease caused by members of a genus of free-living amoebae and it is associated predominantly with contact lens (CL) use. This study reports 55 cases of AK diagnosed in Italy. Genotype identification was carried out by PCR assay followed by sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene using the genus specific primers JDP1 and JDP2. Genotype assignment was based on phenetic analysis of the ASA.S1 subset of the small-subunit rRNA gene sequences. The material has been collected at the Polyclinic Tor Vergata of Rome for a total of 19 isolates and at the Polyclinic Hospital of Bari (36 isolates). Thirty-three out of the 55 genetically characterized isolates were assigned to the genotype T4. Ten isolates were identified as belonging to the genotype T15 thus confirming the first association between the genotype T15 and human amoebic keratitis previously described from the same area. We underline the occurrence of the genotype T3 and T11 identified for the first time in the country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome ''Tor Vergata'', Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; Laboratory of Parasitology, Foundation Polyclinic Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Cave
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome ''Tor Vergata'', Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D' Alfonso
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Foundation Polyclinic Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Kodjo A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Dussey Comlavi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Foundation Polyclinic Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D' Orazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organ, University of Bari, P. G. Cesare 11, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monno
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome ''Tor Vergata'', Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: berrilli@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berrilli
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000469:parasitology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000469:parasitology; D018639:Contact Lens Solutions; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000469:parasitology; D003315:Cornea / Q000469:parasitology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018639:Contact Lens Solutions; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
keywords: 18S rDNA; Acanthamoeba; Genotype variability; Italy; Keratitis