Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Free-Living Amoebae from Different Water Sources in Italy

Margherita Montalbano Di Filippo, Maristella Santoro, Piero Lovreglio, Rosa Monno, Carmen Capolongo, Carla Calia, Luciana Fumarola, Rossella D'Alfonso, Federica Berrilli and David Di Cave
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Margherita Montalbano Di Filippo: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
Maristella Santoro: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
Piero Lovreglio: Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Rosa Monno: Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organ, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Carmen Capolongo: Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organ, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Carla Calia: Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organ, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Luciana Fumarola: Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organ, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Rossella D'Alfonso: Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
Federica Berrilli: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
David Di Cave: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Free-living amoebae (FLA) are protozoa ubiquitous in Nature, isolated from a variety of environments worldwide. In addition to their natural distribution, some species have been found to be pathogenic to humans. In the present study a survey was conducted in order to evaluate the presence and to characterize at molecular level the isolates of amoebic organisms collected from different water sources in Italy. A total of 160 water samples were analyzed by culture and microscopic examination. FLA were found in 46 (28.7%) of the investigated water samples. Groundwater, well waters, and ornamental fountain waters were the sources with higher prevalence rates (85.7%, 50.0%, and 45.9%, respectively). Identification of FLA species/genotypes, based on the 18S rDNA regions, allowed to identify 18 (39.1%) Acanthamoeba isolates (genotypes T4 and T15) and 21 (45.6%) Vermamoeba vermiformis isolates. Other FLA species, including Vahlkampfia sp. and Naegleria spp., previously reported in Italy, were not recovered. The occurrence of potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae in habitats related to human population, as reported in the present study, supports the relevance of FLA as a potential health threat to humans.

Keywords: free-living amoebae; molecular characterization; water sources; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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