Pathogenic free-living amoebae

, Im, K I

doi:1990.28.Suppl.29

Korean J Parasito > Volume 28(Suppl):1990 > Article

Original Article


Korean J Parasitol. 1990 Dec;28(Suppl):29-39. English. Published online Mar 20, 1994. http://dx.doi.org/10.3347/kjp.1990.28.Suppl.29
Copyright © 1990 by The Korean Society for Parasitology


Pathogenic free-living amoebae
K I Im
Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, and Institute of Tropical Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-752, Korea.


Abstract
Studies on pathogenic free-living amoebae performed in Korea were briefly reviewed. One strain of Naegleria fowleri was isolated from the sewage, and 3 strains of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni from a reservoir and the gill of fish. They were identified by morphological characteristics. Three strains among the 4 were experimentally proved pathogenic to cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in mice. The virulence of N. fowleri depended upon various factors such as strain, weight and sex of mice, and number of the inoculated amoebae. A. culbertsoni was found to retain cytolytic activities which were related to the pathogenicity. Also these amoebae were demonstrated to harbour the activities of acid phosphatase, peroxidase and ATPase. There is one case record of systemic Acanthamoeba infection in Korea, proved at autopsy. Cellular or humoral responses to these amoebae have been studied in vitro or in vivo. Immunization could reduce the mortality of experimentally infected mice.

Figures


	Fig. 1 Scanning electron microscopy of Acanthamoeba sp., YM-4.


	Fig. 2 Ultrastructure of Acanthamoeba sp., YM-4.


	Fig. 3 Pathological findings of brain tissue infected with Acanthamoeba sp., YM-2.


	Fig. 4 IgG antibody levels in sera of mice infected intranasally with N. fowleri, N. jadini, and N. gruberi.


	Fig. 5 Natural killer cell cytotoxic activity against YAC-1 target cells in A. cullbertsoni infected mice.


	Fig. 6 Survival rate of offspring mice infected with N. fowleri. (Immunization of mother mice was done during the 2nd and 3rd week of gestation)


	Fig. 7 Survival rates of mice infected with N. fowleri in the groups of control, mice born to immune mothers (Im-Non), immune mice born to non-immune mothers (NonIm), and immune mice born to immune mothers (Im-Im).

Tables


	Table 1 Strains isolated in Seoul, Korea


	Table 2 Summary of characteristics of 7 anti-N. fowleri monoclonal antibodies

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