Benha M. J.
Vol. 11 No 1 Jan. 1994
STUDY ON FREE LIVING AMOEBAE WITH SOME EAR AND NASAL CHRONIC INFECTIONS
Mohamed H. Saieh MD, Ali E. Ali MD, Azza
M. Salah El-Hamshary MD, Ragaey R Fahmy* MD
and Hosam Abdel-Baki** MD.
ParasiloLogy, Pathology* and Ear Nose and Throat** Departments, Benha Facully of Medicine, Egypt
Abstract
Free living amoebae (FLA) were isolated from 33 (66%) out of 50 ear swabs (chronic ear infections) and from 21 (42%) out of 50 nasal swabs (chronic nasal infections). Naegleria and Acanthamoeba species repre-sented 39.4% and 60.6% respectively of 33 positive ear swabs and 33.3% and 66. 7% respectively of 21 positive nasal swabs. The percentage of Acanthamoeba species isolaled from 54 positive ear and nasal swabs (63%) was higher than that of Naegleria species (37%). Naegleria infection was more acquired through aquatic source (swimming), while Acanthamoeba infection was more acquired through air and dust. The in¬cidence of isolation of FLA from both ear and nasal swabs was higher in females (78.2%) than in males (46.7%) and was higher in old age group (62.5%) than in middle and young age groups (50% and 58.3% respective¬ly). The isolated FIA strains in the present study, either Naegleria or Acanthamoeba were non pathogenic as proven by animal pathogenicity test and played no rule in the pathogenesis and pathology of sludied ear and nasal chronic infections.
world. Naegelria and Acantha- A. culbertsoni, A. polyphaga, A. moeba species are facultative par- castellani, A. astronyxis and possi-
Introduction
Free living amoebae (FLA) of soil and water habitats, have been isolated from most areas of the
asites of man. Although only one species of Naegleria (Naegleria fow-leri) is known to cause disease in man, four Acanthamoeba species,
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