Frequency and genetic diversity of Acanthamoeba spp. free living Amoeba in water sources of Urmia, North west Iran

 Free living amoeba that they can cause important diseases such as keratitis and meningoencephalitis, being studied more precisely in the world. In Iran, many studies have been carried out in most parts of the country or are under investigation. Becaus previously no study performed about this parasite in West Azerbaijan (North West Iran), the aim of this study was determination of frequency and genotype of Acanthamoeba spp. in water sources.

 A total of 60 water samples were collected from surface and plumbing waters from five regions of Urmia. Samples after filtration cultured in non-nutrient medium in 30ₒ C. and amoeba harvested and DNA extracted. PCR in 18SrDNA fragment performed using primers JDP2 and JDP1, and 11 pruducts sent to sequencing. Results analyzed by bioinformatics software’s and submmited in Genbank.

Of the 60 superficial and plumbed water samples, 21 samples were positive, of which four were plumbed water and 17 of them were surface water. Out of the twenty-one positive cases, 10 cases were confirmed in validated centers in terms of gene sequencing. Of the ten cases, one was a T2 genotype and nine were T4.

Studies in other parts of the country show that the dominant genotype in Iran is T4, and the frequency and of genotypes of Acanthamoeba. Spp in Urmia also partially relates to the parts of country.