title: Isolation and molecular characterization of free-living amoebae from different water sources in Italy.
abstract: Free-living amoebae (FLA) are protozoa ubiquitous in Nature, isolated from a variety of environments worldwide. In addition to their natural distribution, some species have been found to be pathogenic to humans. In the present study a survey was conducted in order to evaluate the presence and to characterize at molecular level the isolates of amoebic organisms collected from different water sources in Italy. A total of 160 water samples were analyzed by culture and microscopic examination. FLA were found in 46 (28.7%) of the investigated water samples. Groundwater, well waters, and ornamental fountain waters were the sources with higher prevalence rates (85.7%, 50.0%, and 45.9%, respectively). Identification of FLA species/genotypes, based on the 18S rDNA regions, allowed to identify 18 (39.1%) Acanthamoeba isolates (genotypes T4 and T15) and 21 (45.6%) Vermamoeba vermiformis isolates. Other FLA species, including Vahlkampfia sp. and Naegleria spp., previously reported in Italy, were not recovered. The occurrence of potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae in habitats related to human population, as reported in the present study, supports the relevance of FLA as a potential health threat to humans.
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. montalbano.margherita89@gmail.com.
authors: Margherita
authors: M
authors: Montalbano Di Filippo
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. maristella5384@gmail.com.
authors: Maristella
authors: M
authors: Santoro
authors: Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. piero.lovreglio@uniba.it.
authors: Piero
authors: P
authors: Lovreglio
authors: Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organ, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. rosa.monno@uniba.it.
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Monno
authors: Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organ, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. carla.calia@virgilio.it.
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Capolongo
authors: Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organ, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. carla.calia@virgilio.it.
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Calia
authors: Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organ, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. luciana.fumarola@uniba.it.
authors: Luciana
authors: L
authors: Fumarola
authors: Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. dalfonso@uniroma2.it.
authors: Rossella
authors: R
authors: D'Alfonso
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. berrilli@uniroma2.it.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Berrilli
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. dicave@uniroma2.it.|Laboratory of Parasitology, Foundation Polyclinic Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy. dicave@uniroma2.it.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Di Cave
mesh_terms: D056894:Amoebozoa / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis; D005838:Genotype; D007558:Italy; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal