Propylene glycol used as an ophthalmic demulcent in certain contact-lens care systems has been included recently among factors responsible for increasing Acanthamoeba keratitis. In this study, we provide evidence that propylene glycol as well as examined contact-lens solutions containing it induce rapid differentiation of acanthamoebae into pseudocysts. The partial resistance of the pseudocysts and their reversibility to viable trophozoites even after 24-h exposure to the contact-lens solutions indicate a potential risk of infection to contact-lens users.
- MeSH
- Acanthamoeba classification drug effects pathogenicity physiology MeSH
- Acanthamoeba Keratitis etiology MeSH
- Microscopy, Fluorescence MeSH
- Genotype MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Propylene Glycol adverse effects MeSH
- Risk Factors MeSH
- Contact Lens Solutions adverse effects chemistry MeSH
- Microscopy, Electron, Transmission MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a relatively rare disease worldwide. Over the past 10 years, five cases of AK were reported in Slovakia. Four preserved Slovak strains and one strain from the Czech Republic isolated from corneal scrapes of patients with AK are characterised in this study. Genotype identification of isolates is based on sequences of the PCR amplimer GTSA.B1 amplified from 18S ribosomal DNA. A strain isolated from the first patient in 1999 was classified as a rare sequence type T15. This is just the second report in which genotype T15 has been associated with AK. The other three Slovak strains were identified as belonging to the most common genotype T4. The only strain originating from the Czech Republic was classified as sporadically appearing sequence type T3. All isolates were also studied for their temperature tolerance and growth characteristics. The cythopatic effect was tested in vitro on Vero cell cultures.
- MeSH
- Acanthamoeba classification genetics isolation & purification physiology MeSH
- Acanthamoeba Keratitis parasitology MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Phylogeny MeSH
- Genotype MeSH
- Genes, rRNA MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Molecular Sequence Data MeSH
- DNA, Protozoan chemistry genetics MeSH
- DNA, Ribosomal chemistry genetics MeSH
- RNA, Protozoan genetics MeSH
- RNA, Ribosomal, 18S genetics MeSH
- Cornea parasitology MeSH
- Sequence Analysis, DNA MeSH
- Cluster Analysis MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
- Slovakia MeSH
