Abstract

JAULE, Micaela et al. Presencia de Acanthamoeba spp. en piscinas recreativas al aire libre de la ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2021, vol.55, n.1, pp.43-48. ISSN 0325-2957.

The aim of the study was to determine the presence of Acanthamoeba spp. in outdoor recreational pools, in Córdoba city, Argentina. Thirty water samples corresponding to a total of 10 pools were collected. These samples were sown on a non-nutritive agar in the presence of Escherichia coli in Pages’s solution. After 72 hours of incubation at 37 °C, the generic identification was done based on morphological criteria. The amoebo-flagellate transformation test was performed to differentiate from genera that develop flagellated trophozoites, such as Naegleria. Physicochemical parameters were measured in each of the pools. Acanthamoeba spp. was identified in 20% of the samples. The pools, where this parasite was isolated, presented undetectable levels of residual chlorine, moderately alkaline pH and warm temperature. This study demonstrates the presence of Acanthamoeba spp. in recreational pools in Córdoba, which may represent a potential risk to public health.

Keywords : Acanthamoeba; Free-living amoebae; Argentina; Chlorine; Swimming pool s.

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