Identification of 18S ribosomal DNA genotype of Acanthamoeba from patients with keratitis in North China.

Objective: To identify the genotype of 18S ribosomal RNA gene (18S rDNA, Rns) of the Acanthamoeba strains isolated from patients with keratitis in northern China.

Methods: The genus-specific primers JDP1 and JDP2 were used for the amplification of the amplimer ASA.S1. With DNA PCR and sequencing, Rns genotypes were identified according to the DF3 sequence variances.

Results: Of all 26 DF3 sequences obtained from the 26 Acanthamoeba strains, 18 were unique (69.2%). Of those, 17 were Rns genotype T4 and one was Rns genotype T3.

Conclusions: Most Acanthamoeba strains isolated from keratitis in northern China were Rns genotype T4. The results are in agreement with recent results in the literature.