Aongart Mahittikorn1, Thanuntorn Kittichathanakul, Jongdee To-Im, Duangporn Nacapunchai. 1. 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.
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.
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: Grit Walther; Serena Stasch; Kerstin Kaerger; Axel Hamprecht; Mathias Roth; Oliver A Cornely; Gerd Geerling; Colin R Mackenzie; Oliver Kurzai; Marie von Lilienfeld-Toal Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2017-07-26 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Othman Alzahrani; Fayez A Alshehri; Abdulrahman O Alali; Omar H Alzahrani; Zaid A Alzahrani; Abdulrahman AlZahrani; Abdulrahman A Almazrou Journal: Cureus Date: 2021-01-19