STUDIES OF LIMAX-AMOEBAE IN A PHYSIOTHERAPEUTICAL INDOOR-SWIMMING-POOL

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 170  (5-6) , 479-491
Abstract
A physiotherapeutical indoor swimming pool in a hospital was inspected for the presence of limax amoebae potentially pathogenic to humans. In cultures inoculated with material from water samples and from cotton swabs taken from the bottom and walls of the pool, the species of limax amoebae cloned and identified were Naegleria gruberi, Hartmannella vermiformis, Acanthamoeba castellanii, A. polyphaga, A. palestinensis, Vannella mira, V. platypodia, Platyamoeba stenopodia, Echinamoeba exudans and Vexillifera bacillipedes. Two further strains of unidentified Acanthamoeba and 1 strain of Vanella were observed; 3-5 spp. remained unidentified. Beyond this, numerous monotrichous flagellates and Colpoda steini, a holotrichous ciliate, multiplied in water samples and agar plates. The concentration of the total number of pelagic amoebae increased from 10 to 20/l 1 wk after exchange of pool water to 100-1000/l after 3 wk and finally to > 104/l after 2 mo. The isolated strains of Naegleria, Acanthamoeba and Hartmannella were tested for pathogenicity by the intranasal mice inoculation test. Naegleria clones were submitted to a temperature- and salt-tolerance test. All strains tested by these methods were nonpathogenic.

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