Journal
JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH
Volume 20, Issue 1, Pages 54-67Publisher
IWA PUBLISHING
DOI: 10.2166/wh.2021.128
Keywords
Acanthamoeba; environment; free-living amoebae; genotype; Malaysia; seawater
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Funding
- DUCS [Dana UiTM Cawangan Selangor], Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia [600-UiTMSEL (PI. 5/4) (006/2020)]
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This study in Malaysia identified Acanthamoeba presence in marine waters, with some strains showing highly pathogenic attributes. The findings suggest that marine waters in Malaysia could be a potential source of pathogenic acanthamoebic strains in humans, highlighting the need for routine monitoring of water quality risks.
The present study identifies the Acanthamoeba genotypes and their pathogenic potential in five marine waters in Malaysia. Fifty water samples were collected between January and May 2019. Physical parameters of water quality were measured in situ, whereas chemical and microbiological analyses were conducted in the laboratory. All samples had undergone filtration using nitrocellulose membrane and tested for Acanthamoeba using cultivation and polymerase chain reaction by targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA gene. The pathogenic potential of all positive isolates was identified using physiological tolerance tests. Thirty-six (72.0%) samples were positive for Acanthamoeba. Total coliforms (p = 0.013) and pH level (p = 0.023) displayed significant correlation with Acanthamoeba presence. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 27 samples belonged to genotype T4, four (T11), two (T18) and one from each genotype T5, T15 and T20. Thermo- and osmo-tolerance tests signified that three (8.3%) Acanthamoeba strains displayed highly pathogenic attributes. This study is the first investigation in Malaysia describing Acanthamoeba detection in marine water with molecular techniques and genotyping. The study outcomes revealed that the marine water in Malaysia could be an integral source of acanthamoebic strains potentially pathogenic in humans. Thus, the potential risk of this water should be monitored routinely in each region.
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