Isolation and genotyping of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains from dust sources in Iran.

Opportunistic free-living amoebae of the Acanthamoeba genus present genotypes/strains that are causative agents of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), with genotype T4 related to most AK cases worldwide. In order to prove that exposure to dirt and dust could be an important risk factor for contact lens wearers in Iran, 13 strains isolated from dust samples in this area were classified at the genotype level. Results revealed the presence of T4, T5 and T11 genotypes within these samples. To our knowledge, this is the first study presenting the identification of pathogenic genotypes of Acanthamoeba in dust samples in Iran and around the world.