Reza Saberi1,2, Mahdi Fakhar3,4, Omid Sedighi5, Fatemeh Espahbodi5, Alireza Latifi6, Atieh Makhlough5, Ali Sharifpour1,7, Hajar Ziaei Hezarjaribi1, Shabnam Asfaram1. 1. Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, P.O Box: 48471-91971, Sari, Iran. 2. Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. 3. Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, P.O Box: 48471-91971, Sari, Iran. mahdif53@yahoo.com. 4. Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis (INRCL), Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. mahdif53@yahoo.com. 5. Department of Nephrology, Toxoplasmosis Research Center, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. 6. Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Public Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 7. Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis (INRCL), Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acanthamoeba is a genus of the free-living amoeba that is widespread in the environment and is a causative agent of opportunistic infections in human. This study aimed to investigate the existence and genotyping of Acanthamoeba species in hemodialysis units in Iran. METHODS: In the present study, forty water samples of hydraulic systems and twenty dust samples were collected from two hemodialysis units in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. The samples were cultivated on non-nutrient agar and genotyping was performed by targeting the 18S rRNA gene. RESULTS: Both morphology and molecular analyses showed that 17.5% (7/40) of water samples and 50% (10/20) of dust samples were positive for Acanthamoeba spp. The sequencing analysis of these isolates was found to be T3, T4 and T5 genotypes. DISCUSSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation to identify of Acanthamoeba species in hydraulic system of hemodialysis units in Iran. High contamination of hemodialysis units with virulent T4 genotype of Acanthamoeba may poses a risk for biofilm formation. Our results support urgent need to improve filtration methods in dialysis units and monitoring hemodialysis patients for Acanthamoeba infections.
BACKGROUND: Acanthamoeba is a genus of the free-living amoeba that is widespread in the environment and is a causative agent of opportunistic infections in human. This study aimed to investigate the existence and genotyping of Acanthamoeba species in hemodialysis units in Iran. METHODS: In the present study, forty water samples of hydraulic systems and twenty dust samples were collected from two hemodialysis units in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. The samples were cultivated on non-nutrient agar and genotyping was performed by targeting the 18S rRNA gene. RESULTS: Both morphology and molecular analyses showed that 17.5% (7/40) of water samples and 50% (10/20) of dust samples were positive for Acanthamoeba spp. The sequencing analysis of these isolates was found to be T3, T4 and T5 genotypes. DISCUSSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation to identify of Acanthamoeba species in hydraulic system of hemodialysis units in Iran. High contamination of hemodialysis units with virulent T4 genotype of Acanthamoeba may poses a risk for biofilm formation. Our results support urgent need to improve filtration methods in dialysis units and monitoring hemodialysis patients for Acanthamoeba infections.