title: Monitoring of in vitro dynamics of Acanthamoeba strains isolated from infected eyes as a useful tool in keratitis management.
abstract: Free-living amoebae of Acanthamoeba genus are ubiquitous in various parts of the world. Some species of these amoebozoans present a serious risk to human health as the causative agents of vision-threatening diseases, Acanthamoeba keratitis. Correct diagnosis requires both a clinical examination of the cornea and amoebic form identification in affected eyes. Despite advances in pharmacotherapy, the infection is difficult to diagnose and to threat. Population dynamics of five different Acanthamoeba strains cultured in vitro under bacteria-free condition in BSC medium, was monitored in terms of diagnostic and therapeutic management. The range of protozoan number in the exponential growth phase, the morpho-physiological status of amoeba forms and their ability to multiply were evaluated. Results of the studies revealed that early and continued monitoring of the strains maintained in an axenic culture showed correlation between the dynamics of cultivated amoebae and the course of the disease, differences in response to pharmacotherapy and the surgical management efficacy. Concluding, the in vitro monitoring of dynamics of Acanthamoeba strains isolated from infected corneas may be important not only for proper diagnosis but also as a useful tool in keratitis management and therapeutic prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Medical University of Warsaw, 73 Nowogrodzka Str., 02-018 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: lidia.chomicz@wum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chomicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Medical University of Warsaw, 73 Nowogrodzka Str., 02-018 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Padzik
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, SPKSO Ophthalmic Hospital, Medical University of Warsaw, 13 Sierakowskiego Str., 03-709 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Szaflik
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Gdansk, 9b Powstania Styczniowego Str., 81-519 Gdynia, Poland.
authors.forename: Wacław L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Nahorski
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Medical University of Warsaw, 73 Nowogrodzka Str., 02-018 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kryczka
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, SPKSO Ophthalmic Hospital, Medical University of Warsaw, 13 Sierakowskiego Str., 03-709 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szaflik
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000628:therapy; D003315:Cornea / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D011157:Population Dynamics; D066167:Slit Lamp; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: In vitro dynamics; Keratitis; Pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains