Free-living amoebae and their relationship to air quality in hospital environments: characterization of Acanthamoeba spp. obtained from air-conditioning systems.

ABSTRACT: Free-living amoebae (FLA) are widely dispersed in the environment, can cause opportunistic and non-opportunistic infections in humans and other animals. The aim of the present study was characterize FLA obtained from air-conditioners of a public hospital in the city of Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Fifty-four dust samples were collected of air conditioners, and were inoculated on 1.5% non-nutrient agar, overlaid with layers of Escherichia coli. Subsequently the isolates were axenised in PYG growth medium. The morphological and molecular characterization of the isolates was performed, as well as the tolerance (physiological) assays were used to evaluate the pathogenic potential. The results revealed the presence of FLA in 42 (77.8%) of the collected samples. Of these, 39 (92.9%) axenic isolate

SUBMITTER: Wopereis DB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10318258 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature