title: Knowledge, Behavior, and Free-Living Amoebae Contamination of Cosmetic Contact Lens Among University Wearers in Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the general knowledge, behavior, and presence of potentially pathogenic amoebae in cosmetic contact lens (CCL) wearers.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred CCL asymptomatic wearers were randomly selected. A questionnaire regarding their lens use, and a pair of their CCL was obtained. Identification of free-living amoeba (FLA) strains was based on morphological diagnosis, enflagellation tests (for non-Acanthamoeba strains), and sequencing of the small-subunit rRNA gene fragments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most (92%) of the participants surveyed were women, and the average age of the participants was 21.5±0.2 years. The CCL wearers generally showed a moderate (47%) or good (35%) level of knowledge, and good (51%) or excellent (40%) use of CCL. Two CCL samples were positive for Acanthamoeba genotype T3 or Vahlkampfia. The Acanthamoeba-contaminated CCL was from a wearer who used saline for treating lenses, and the Vahlkampfia-contaminated CCL was from a wearer who used CCL while swimming.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report of the presence of potentially pathogenic FLA in used CCL from asymptomatic wearers in Thailand. Although there was satisfactory knowledge and practice of lens care use, the public should be aware of CCL contaminated with potentially pathogenic FLA that can directly or indirectly cause keratitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Protozoology (A.M.), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Clinical Chemistry (T.K., D.N.), Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand; and Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies (J.T.-I.), Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
authors.forename: Aongart
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahittikorn
authors.forename: Thanuntorn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kittichathanakul
authors.forename: Jongdee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: To-Im
authors.forename: Duangporn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nacapunchai
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000382:microbiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan