Acanthamoeba spp.

El-Wakil, Eman S., El-Kholy, Hanan S., El-Araby, Rady E. & Ghallab, Marwa M. I., 2022, Genotype diversity, phylogenetic analysis and seasonality of isolates of Acanthamoeba spp. in swimming pools in Kafrelsheikh, Egypt, Folia Parasitologica (029) 69, pp. 1-5 : 2-3

Prevalence of Acanthamoeba spp. in the examined swimming pools detected by microscopy

Cultivation of all collected water samples from swimming pool revealed that 14 out of a total 48 samples (29 %) were positive for Acanthamoeba spp. ( Table 1 ). Examination of positive culture and subculture plates revealed both trophozoites of Acanthamoeba spp. (48–72 hours after culturing) and cysts (at least three days after culturing). Trophozoites of Acanthamoeba were similar morphologically with variable sizes ranging from 25 to 40 µm and the typical large karyosome within the nucleus. Acanthopodia, spin-like projections, arised from the cytoplasm and are used for locomotion Fig. 1A .

The cysts of Acanthamoeba spp. has a typical double cyst wall (ectocyst and endocyst). An Acanthamoeba cyst had a smooth or wrinkled outer wall (ectocyst) and a stellate, polygonal or star-like inner wall (endocyst) and measured 10–30 μm in diameter ( Fig. 1B–D ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Fresh unstained trophozoites (A) and cysts (B–D) of Acanthamoeba spp.