Isolation of Acanthamoeba spp. from Aquatic Environment / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to isolate Acanthamoeba spp. from various aquatic environments in Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 160 samples were collected with 140 samples using direct swab method and 20 samples using water collection method with 500 ml sterile Schott bottle. The swab samples were taken from water tap (50), sink (50), and swimming pool (40) while the water samples were from seawater. Swab samples were inoculated directly onto non-nutrient agar (NNA) seeded with heat-killed Escherichia coli using aseptic technique. Water samples were first filtered through a 0.45μm pore size membrane before the membrane was transferred aseptically onto NNA plate seeded with heat-killed E. coli. All plates were incubated at 30°C and examined daily for the presence of Acanthamoeba spp. up to 14 days after incubation before being declared negative. Overall, 20% samples were positive for the presence of Acanthamoeba. Positive isolation of Acanthamoeba spp. from sink and swimming pool were 20% and 30%, respectively. All three groups of Acanthamoeba genus in cyst form could be found from the collected samples.