Environmental detection and genetic profiling of Acanthamoeba in high-risk medical facilities.

Background: Acanthamoeba parasite, one of the most common environmental protozoans, can be isolated from contact lenses, cleaning solutions, ventilation systems, dental treatment units, dialysis units, and emergency showers. Since the genus Acanthamoeba can lead to dangerous infectious diseases in immunocompromised patients, monitoring medical centers and hospitals admitting these patients, is of great importance.

Methods: In this study, 53 dust samples were collected from 4 high-risk health care facilities in Khorramabad City, Western Iran. The samples were cultured in a non-nutritive agar culture medium, and samples with positive cultures were selected for molecular analysis. PCR and LAMP targeting 18srRNA gene-specific primers were used to analyze the samples.

Results: The culture and microscopic examination showed that 31 out of 53 samples (58.5%) collected were positive for the Acanthamoeba parasite. All the positive samples by the culture method were also positive in the PCR assay. Out of 53 examined samples, 26 were positive by the LAMP technique regarding the presence of the Acanthamoeba parasite. Sequencing results of 4 sequenced samples showed T4 genotypes, Acanthamoeba sp, and Acanthamoeba culbertsoni.

Conclusions: The present study showed that the environment of high-risk health care facilities in Khorramabad city is contaminated with Acanthamoeba, and the pathogenic T4 genotype is present among the positive samples.