Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

The Korea Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (대한기생충학·열대의학회)
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Presence and diversity of free-living amoebae and their potential application as water quality indicators

  • Areum Choi (Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Ji Won Seong (Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Jeong Hyun Kim (Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Jun Young Lee (Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Hyun Jae Cho (Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Shin Ae Kang (Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Mi Kyung Park (Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Mi Jin Jeong (Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Seo Yeong Choi (Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Yu Jin Jeong (Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Hak Sun Yu (Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University)
  • Received : 2024.03.18
  • Accepted : 2024.04.17
  • Published : 2024.05.31
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Abstract

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are found in diverse environments, such as soils, rivers, and seas. Hence, they can be used as bioindicators to assess the water quality based solely on their presence. In this study, we determined the presence of FLA in river water by filtering water samples collected from various sites and culturing the resulting filtrates. FLA were detected in all the water samples with varying quality grades (Grades I-V). The significant increase in the size of the amoebae population with the deterioration in the water quality. Monoxenic cultures of the amoebae were performed, and genomic DNAs were isolated, among which 18S rDNAs were sequenced to identify the amoeba species. Of the 12 species identified, 10 belonged to the Acanthamoeba genus; of the remaining 2 species, one was identified as Vannella croatica and the other as a species of Vermamoeba. Acanthamoeba was detected in samples with Grades I to VI quality, whereas the Vermamoeba species was present only in Grade I water. V. croatica was found exclusively in water with Grade II quality. Following morphological observations, genomic DNA was sequenced using 16S rDNA to determine whether the species of Acanthamoeba harbored endosymbionts. Most of the isolated Acanthamoeba contained endosymbionts, among which 4 species of endogenous bacteria were identified and examined using transmission electron microscopy. This study provides evidence that the distribution of amoebae other than Acanthamoeba may be associated with water quality. However, further confirmation will be required based on accurate water quality ratings and assessments using a more diverse range of FLA.

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References

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