การสำรวจอะแคนทามีบาในตัวอย่างน้ำสวนสาธารณะในประเทศไทย

Abstract

Acanthamoebaare free-living amoebae found in the environment and are oppor-tunistic pathogens causing infections of the Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis (GAE), Acan-thamoeba Keratitis (AK) and Subacute granulomatousn dermatitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Acanthamoeba spp. in water samples from the public park and identify Acanthamoeba spp. based on the morphology of cyst. A total of 300 water samples were recovered at average of 24.53°C, approximate pH 5.3. The Acanthamoebaspp. were cultured in non-nutrient agar coated withEscherichia coli and observed the morphology under compound light microscope. The results showed that there were 35% of Acanthamoeba spp. from total water samples. The highest prevalence of Acanthamoebaspp. was found in Saraburiand Songkhla, whereas the lowest prevalence was found in Nakhon Ratchasima and Rat-chaburi. Acanthamoebaspp. in this study were classified into 3 groups based on cyst morpho-logy, and the highest prevalence of cyst were classified in group II. This study suggested that Acanthamoeba spp. can be found the water samples collected from the public park. It is es-sential information to monitor the Acanthamoeba spp. infection.