Ability of acanthamoeba cyst to excyst at different temperatures

• Main Authors: Nurul Fariza Rossle, Mohamed Kamel Abd Ghani, Anisah Nordin, Yusof Suboh, Noraina Ab Rahim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Penerbit UKM 2011
• Online Access: http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3607/1/Ability_of_Acanthamoeba_Cyst_to_Excyst_at_Different_Temperatures.pdf; http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3607/; http://www.fsk.ukm.my/jurnal/jilid%209%281%29%202011/Chap%207_terbitan%209.1%20%282011%29.pdf
• Institution: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

This study was carried out to observe thermotolerance ability of Acanthamoeba spp. A total of 32 Acanthamoeba spp. isolates obtained from water taps, sinks, swimming pools and sea water were used. Trophozoites of Acanthamoeba spp. were inoculated onto non-nutrient agar (NNA) seeded with heat-killed Escherichia coli using aseptic technique and incubated for 14 days at 30°C to obtain the cyst. The cysts were subcultured onto new agar plates for thermotolerance test at 37°C and 42°C. The plates were observed until 96 hours after incubation for excystation of Acanthamoeba before being declared negative. Overall, 81.25% of samples were able to excyst at 37°C while 37.5% were able to excyst at 42°C. Thermotolerant Acanthamoeba is associated with high pathogenicity potential.