Acanthamoeba keratitis: Molecular typing of Acanthamoeba species directly from ocular tissue

• Published in: Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases 2023-01, Vol.4, p.100141-100141, Article 100141
• Main Authors: Connelly, Lisa, Anijeet, Deepa, Tole, Derek, Alexander, Claire L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acanthamoeba keratitis; Genotypes; Ocular; PCR; Short Communication; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 2667-114X; 2667-114X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100141

This report explores the molecular profiling of Acanthamoeba spp. from individuals in the UK suffering from a debilitating, sight-threatening disease of the cornea known as Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). Seventy ocular samples from individuals undergoing investigations for AK were sent to the Scottish Microbiology Reference Laboratories (SMiRL), Glasgow during 2017–2019, and subjected to DNA extraction followed by in-depth molecular typing using a nested PCR/bi-directional sequencing approach. Of the 70 samples tested, 40 were PCR-positive. Of these, 32 were successfully sequenced and assigned to two of 23 existing genotypes termed T1 to T23. Molecular profiling of the 32 samples highlighted two genotypes, namely T3 (n = 3) and T4 (n = 29). For those 29 samples identified as the T4 genotype, a sub-genotype (T4A-T4H) was recorded: T4A (n = 18); T4B (n = 5); T4C (n = 1); T4E (n = 4); and T4F (n = 1). This study highlights that the T4 genotype and T4A subtype are the predominant molecular variants to cause ocular disease in the UK. Gaining in-depth information on the molecular profiling of Acanthamoeba spp. is essential to increase our understanding of the source(s) of infection, transmission pathways, and potential associations with clinical outcomes for this rare, yet potentially debilitating ocular disease. [Display omitted] •Acanthamoeba keratitis is a sight-threatening disease caused by Acanthamoeba spp.•Limited information is available in the UK on specific molecular variants that cause Acanthamoeba keratitis.•Genotyping of Acanthamoeba species directly from clinical material is possible.•T4 and T3, and five T4 subtypes were isolated from human Acanthamoeba keratitis cases in the UK.•Robust molecular data are essential to improve our understanding of this debilitating disease.