Investigating Acanthamoeba in Coastal Waters of Caspian Sea in Guilan Province, Iran

Background: Acanthamoeba spp., can cause severe and fatal diseases including encephalitis, skin granulomatous keratitis. Contaminated waters be a threat to high risk people such as contact lens wearers, patients with eye surgery or trauma, immunocompromised patients. Objective: The present study aims investigate the presence of potentially pathogenic in coastal water Caspian Sea Guilan Province, Iran based on morphological criteria thermotolerance assay. Materials Methods: In this descriptive conducted 2018, total 60 samples were collected randomly from shores Rudsar, Chamkhaleh, Kiyashahr, Zibakenar Bandar-e Anzali (12 500 mL each site). Water was filtered by cellulose nitrate membranes 0.45 µm pore size then cultured non-nutrient agar. They checked daily for Free-Living Amoeba (FLA) morphologic characteristics both trophozoite cyst using light microscope (100X). Thermotolerance assay used determine potential pathogenicity its growth examined at temperature 42°C. Results: FLA grown 30 out (50%) room 8 (26.6 %) identified all sampling sites, where Conclusion: There is spp Province. Since province attracts many tourists annually, it necessary that high-risk wearers area warned health organizations.