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Coexistence of free-living amoebae and bacteria in selected South African hospital water distribution systems
Pathogenic free-living amoebae (FLA), such as Naegleria fowleri , Balamuthia mandrillaris and Acanthamoeba species isolated from aquatic environments have been implicated in central nervous system, eye and skin human infections. They also allow the survival, growth and transmission of bacteria such...
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Published in: | Parasitology research (1987) 2017-01, Vol.116 (1), p.155-165 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Pathogenic free-living amoebae (FLA), such as
Naegleria fowleri
,
Balamuthia mandrillaris
and
Acanthamoeba
species isolated from aquatic environments have been implicated in central nervous system, eye and skin human infections. They also allow the survival, growth and transmission of bacteria such as
Legionella
,
Mycobacteria and Vibrio
species in water systems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the co-occurrence of potentially pathogenic FLA and their associated bacteria in hospital water networks in Johannesburg, South Africa. A total of 178 water (
n
= 95) and swab (
n
= 83) samples were collected from two hospital water distribution systems. FLA were isolated using the amoebal enrichment technique and identified using PCR and 18S rDNA sequencing. Amoebae potentially containing intra-amoebal bacteria were lysed and cultured on blood agar plates. Bacterial isolates were characterized using the VITEK®2 compact System. Free-living amoebae were isolated from 77 (43.3 %) of the samples. Using microscopy, PCR and 18S rRNA sequencing,
Acanthamoeba
spp. (T3 and T20 genotypes),
Vermamoeba vermiformis
and
Naegleria gruberi
specie were identified. The
Acanthamoeba
T3 and T20 genotypes have been implicated in eye and central nervous system infections. The most commonly detected bacterial species were
Serratia marcescens
,
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
,
Delftia acidovorans
,
Sphingomonas paucimobilis
and
Comamonas testosteroni
. These nosocomial pathogenic bacteria are associated with systematic blood, respiratory tract, the urinary tract, surgical wounds and soft tissues infections. The detection of FLA and their associated opportunistic bacteria in the hospital water systems point out to a potential health risk to immune-compromised individuals. |
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ISSN: | 0932-0113 1432-1955 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s00436-016-5271-3 |