title: High occurrence of Acanthamoeba genotype T4 in soil sources from Bolívar State, Venezuela.
abstract: Pathogenic strains of Acanthamoeba are causative agents of keratitis and encephalitis that often may end fatal in humans and other animals. In the present study, twenty-seven soil samples were collected in the Bolivar State in Venezuela and checked for the presence of Acanthamoeba. Samples were cultivated onto 2% non-nutrient agar plates seeded with a layer of heat killed E. coli. Amplification by PCR and sequencing of the DF3 region of the 18S rDNA of Acanthamoeba was carried out in order to confirm morphological identification of the amoebae. Furthermore, Acanthamoeba spp. was isolated from 51.8% of soil samples. Sequencing of the DF3 region of the 18S rDNA resulted in the identification of genotype T4 in all samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of genotype T4 in soil sources from Venezuela. Further studies should be carried out in this State and in the country in order to determine the current occurrence of Acanthamoeba in Venezuelan environments.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reyes-Batlle
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernán
authors.forename: Elsy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Gladymar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Atteneri
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Arencibia
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sifaoui
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez-Carretero
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Piñero
authors.forename: Basilio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Valladares
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lorenzo-Morales
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*; D014687:Venezuela
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012987:Soil