Molecular identification and genotyping of Acanthamoeba spp., in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from immunocompetent patients with chronic respiratory disorders (CRD).

This study aimed to investigate the presence and genotyping of Acanthamoeba spp., in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of immunocompetent patients with chronic respiratory disorders (CRD). In this study, 211 BALF samples were collected from patients with CRD during the COVID-19 pandemic who were candidates for fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) at Imam Khomeini Hospital, Sari, Mazandaran Province, northern Iran and investigated for Acanthamoeba spp., by PCR. A total of 211 FBAL samples were examined; 5 (5/211; 2.36%) were positive by using the PCR test for Acanthamoeba spp. According to sequence analysis, three strains belonged to the T4 genotype and one strain to the T2 genotype. Our data demonstrate that the presence of Acanthamoeba (T4 and T2) in BALF specimens of patients with respiratory infections. However, it is important to note that these findings may be merely accidental. Our findings suggest further investigation to fully understand the role of Acanthamoeba spp. in the pathogenesis of lung infections.

First Co-morbidity of Lophomonas blattarum and COVID-19 Infections: Confirmed Using Molecular Approach.

INTRODUCTION: Lophomoniasis is caused by Lophomonas spp., a new emerging protozoan, which commonly affects the human lower respiratory tract. The Lophomonas parasite mostly lives commensally in the hindgut of cockroaches. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 33-year-old woman, 30 weeks pregnant, who had severe COVID-19. She was intubated upon admission and began the routine COVID-19 treatment. To rule out possible super infection dual with COVID-19, microscopic examination of the patient's mini-bronchoalveolar lavage (mini-BAL) specimen, revealed L. blattarum, which was identified by the SSU rRNA-PCR and sequencing approaches (accession number: MZ093069). According to that, the patient was treated successfully with metronidazole. CONCLUSION: To prevent serious complications, lophomoniasis should be listed in co-morbidity cases of COVID-19 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first co-infection of Lophomonas blattarum and COVID-19 in the world which has been confirmed using a molecular approach.

First Co-morbidity of Lophomonas blattarum and COVID-19 Infections: Confirmed Using Molecular Approach

Introduction Lophomoniasis is caused by Lophomonas spp., a new emerging protozoan, which commonly affects the human lower respiratory tract. The Lophomonas parasite mostly lives commensally in the hindgut of cockroaches. Case Presentation We present the case of a 33-year-old woman, 30 weeks pregnant, who had severe COVID-19. She was intubated upon admission and began the routine COVID-19 treatment. To rule out possible super infection dual with COVID-19, microscopic examination of the patient's mini-bronchoalveolar lavage (mini-BAL) specimen, revealed L. blattarum, which was identified by the SSU rRNA-PCR and sequencing approaches (accession number: MZ093069). According to that, the patient was treated successfully with metronidazole. Conclusion To prevent serious complications, lophomoniasis should be listed in co-morbidity cases of COVID-19 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first co-infection of Lophomonas blattarum and COVID-19 in the world which has been confirmed using a molecular approach.