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J Med Microbiol 57 (2008), 1399-1404; DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.2008/003459-0
© 2008 Society for General Microbiology
ISSN 0022-2615

The potential pathogenicity of chlorhexidine-sensitive Acanthamoeba strains isolated from contact lens cases from asymptomatic individuals in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Carmen M. Martín-Navarro, Jacob Lorenzo-Morales, M. Gabriela Cabrera-Serra, Fernando Rancel, Nieves M. Coronado-Álvarez, José E. Piñero and Basilio Valladares

University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Correspondence
Basilio Valladares
bvallada{at}ull.es

Received May 13, 2008
Accepted July 15, 2008

Pathogenic strains of the genus Acanthamoeba are causative agents of a serious sight-threatening infection of the eye known as Acanthamoeba keratitis. The prevalence of this infection has risen in the past 20 years, mainly due to the increase in number of contact lens wearers. In this study, the prevalence of Acanthamoeba in a risk group constituted by asymptomatic contact lens wearers from Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, was evaluated. Contact lenses and contact lens cases were analysed for the presence of Acanthamoeba isolates. The isolates' genotypes were also determined after rDNA sequencing. The pathogenic potential of the isolated strains was subsequently established using previously described molecular and biochemical assays, which allowed the selection of three strains with high pathogenic potential. Furthermore, the sensitivity of these isolates against two standard drugs, ciprofloxacin and chlorhexidine, was analysed. As the three selected strains were sensitive to chlorhexidine, its activity and IC50 were evaluated. Chlorhexidine was found to be active against these strains and the obtained IC50 values were compared to the concentrations of this drug present in contact lens maintenance solutions. It was observed that the measured IC50 was higher than the concentration found in these maintenance solutions. Therefore, the ineffectiveness of chlorhexidine-containing contact lens maintenance solutions against potentially pathogenic strains of Acanthamoeba is demonstrated in this study.

Abbreviations: AK, Acanthamoeba keratitis; PHMB, polyhexamethylene biguanide.

The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession numbers for the diagnostic fragment 3 sequence of the 28 new Acanthamoeba isolates are EU686695–EU686722.






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