Background The genus Acanthamoeba is reported from various environmental sources and can cause multiple complications, including chronic amoebic aeratitis and amoebic granulomatous encephalitis. This study investigated the presence and genotyping of Acanthamoeba in the soil of parks and patients with malignancies referred to health centers in Zanjan city, Iran. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 200 soil samples were collected from amusement parks in Zanjan city from September 2017 to May 2018. Samples were cultured on 1.5% non-nutrient agar, and the Acanthamoeba genus was identified using the morphological method. PCR was performed on all positive environmental samples, and six microscopically positive clinical samples belonged to our previous study. DNA sequencing of 18S rRNA was performed to analyze the genetic pattern of some PCR-positive isolates. Results Microscopic results showed that 96 (48%) soil samples were positive. PCR confirmed all positive cases of clinical samples and 84 soil samples. Out of the PCR-positive samples, 20 soil samples and five clinical samples were sequenced successfully. All soil isolates belonged to the T4 genotype, and three and two clinical samples belonged to T4 and T5 genotypes, respectively. Conclusion : The presence of Acanthamoeba in both the environment and clinical samples of Zanjan city suggests paying greater attention to the infections caused by it.

中文翻译：

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从恶性肿瘤患者的土壤样本和鼻腔中分离出的棘阿米巴的系统发育分析：伊朗西北部的公共卫生问题

背景 棘阿米巴属来自各种环境来源，可引起多种并发症，包括慢性阿米巴气炎和阿米巴肉芽肿性脑炎。这项研究调查了伊朗赞詹市卫生中心的公园和恶性肿瘤患者的土壤中棘阿米巴的存在和基因分型。方法横断面研究2017年9月至2018年5月在赞詹市游乐园采集土壤样品200份，在1.5%非营养琼脂上培养，采用形态学方法对棘阿米巴属进行鉴定。对所有阳性环境样本进行了 PCR，其中 6 个镜检阳性临床样本属于我们之前的研究。对 18S rRNA 进行 DNA 测序，分析一些 PCR 阳性分离株的遗传模式。结果 镜检结果显示，96份（48%）土壤样品呈阳性。PCR确认了临床样本和84份土壤样本的所有阳性病例。在 PCR 阳性样本中，20 个土壤样本和 5 个临床样本已成功测序。所有土壤分离株均属于T4基因型，3个和2个临床样品分别属于T4和T5基因型。结论：赞詹市环境和临床样本中均存在棘阿米巴，提示应更加关注其引起的感染。