Angelo Rafael S. Cruz and Windell L.

Rivera were able to identify and analyze

the genotypes of the Acanthamoeba species actively present in the
Philippine population. This is considered as an application of modern
biotechnology. The research was done in order to determine the group of
people who have high risk of contacting Acanthamoeba species, where it can
be acquired, what diseases a specific genotype can bring, and other
genotype(s) which is yet to be known and must begiven attention in the
Philippines

To do this, the researchers collected human nasal swabs from two groups. (1)
students of Unversity of the Philippines, (2) laborers frequently exposed to
garbage, soil, and dust. 1 out of 70 students, 7 out of 110 for the laborers,
and 4 out 4 soil samples turned out positive for Acanthamoeba species.
Thus, the students were labelled as low-exposure group while the laborers
became the high exposure group. Of those 12 Acanthamoeba samples
isolated, 9 were sequenced. Using the US National Center for Biotechnology
Information, 5 isolates were identified as T5, and 3 isolates were genotype
T4. Genotype T11 were isolated from the soil ad the first o be reported in the
Philippines.

Acanthamoeba sp. is an opportunistic free-living pathogen that is widely

distributed in the environment including soil, water systems and air.
Currently, there are 18 known genotypes of Acanthamoeba based on the Rns
gene, T1 to T18. Some genotypes are pathogenic, causing human diseases
like the debilitating Acanthamoeba keratitis that can cause blindness, and
the fatal Acanthamoeba granulomatous encephalitis (AGE). Acanthamoeba
spp. have been isolated from air samples and from nasal epithelial surfaces
of healthy human,
usually during the windy periods.Acanthamoeba cysts are easily dispersed by
air and can reach the nasal epithelial surfaces. From the nasal cavity, it can
travel to the central nervous system through the respiratory tract and the
blood stream. This present study aims to discriminate the Rns genotypes of
Acanthamoeba spp. obtained from the nasal epithelium of human.

With these results, we were able to discern the need for more healthy
provisions especially for those who have high exposure to these pathogen.
The government and other health groups must also be cautious of the new
strain which just arised in the Philippines, genotype T11. This may be
another disease causing strain and could be a fatal one. Thus, this study calls
for reevaluation of the countrys health and sanitary standards.

Reference:

Rivera, W.L., & Cruz, A.S. (September 2014). Genotype analysis

of Acanthamoeba isolated from human nasal swabs in the Philippines. Asian
Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 7. Retrieved from
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/