Distribution of Acanthamoeba in more and less polluted North Sea coastal sediments

A

CANTHAMOEBA

spp. are free-living amoebae that are ubi-

quitous in nature. Some species within this large genus are

opportunistic pathogens of man (Marciano-Cabral, Puffenbarger,

and Cabral 2000). Infections caused by pathogenic species can

involve the brain, skin, lung and eyes; eye infection is the most

common (

Acanthamoeba

keratitis; De Jonckheere 1991). Species

of

Acanthamoeba

have been isolated from a variety of sources

including soil, dust, fresh and marine waters (Fritsche et al. 2000;

John 1993). These amoebae have a two-stage life cycle involving

a vegetative trophozoite stage and a resistant cyst stage. The cysts

are highly resistant to desiccation, cold, many commonly used

disinfectants, and can survive exposure to 50 ppm free chlorine.

As a result

Acanthamoeba

has been isolated from potable water

systems and public baths (Seal 1995; Vesaluomo, Kalso, and

Jokippi 1995). Although these organisms have been isolated from

marine and fresh waters, their significance in relation to public

health in these environments is less clear, as are the factors that are

related to their geographical distribution. Such environments are

affected by a number of factors and pollution would play a major

role in modifying aquatic environments. Pollution can come from

a variety of sources including fecal, industrial organic and heavy

metals. This study assesses the impact of ‘‘pollutants’’ on the

isolation rates and species/pathogen distribution of

Acanthamoeba

in North Sea coastal marine sediments