Isolation of soil amoebae from the nasal mucosa of children in Tanta - Egypt

Forty children attending the outpatient clinic, Tanta University Hospitals were examined by nasal swabing in order to discover the healthy free-living amoebae carriers. The swabs were cultured on non-nutrient agar with active E-coli and incubated at 37°C and 45°C. Two species of free-living amoebae were identified: Hartmannella agricola and Acanthamoeba polyphaga. Pathogenicity of these amoebae was tested by intranasal instillation in mice. During the observation period of two months, 20% of mice died within 21 days post inoculation. The possible role of these amoebae in the nasal cavity and the way of contamination are discussed