• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.43 no.2 s.134
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• pp.47-50
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• 2005

A survey was carried out from August to December 2004 in Pusan, Korea to document the presence of free-living amoeba (FLA), including the genus Acanthamoeba, in both contact lens storage cases and domestic tap water. Acanthamoeba was isolated from $5(4.2\%)$ in 120 contact lens storage cases. Four house tap water samples from residents, whose contact lens storage cases had been contaminated by Acanthamoeba, were also found to be contaminated with Acanthamoeba. Therefore, the contamination rate of FLA and Acanthamoeba in domestic tap water was investigated in order to examine the role of domestic tap water in Acanthamoeba contamination of contact lens storage cases. FLA and Acanthamoeba were identified in $97(46.8\%)\;and\;16(7.7\%)$ of the 207 domestic tap water samples, respectively. There were no significant differences between the contamination rates of FLA in tap water according to the filtration plant of origin. No FLA was detected in the tap water directly supplied by the water purification plants. Water storage tanks appear to promote FLA colonization, including Acanthamoeba, in domestic tap water. This increases the risk of Acanthamoeba contamination in contact lens storage cases as well as increasing the risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.135-145
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the actual condition of caring soft contact lens cases and the change in contamination level of lens cases by wearing and storage period of soft contact lens. Methods: The actual condition of caring soft lens cases was surveyed with sixty-three of contact lens wearers. Soft contact lenses were worn for 1, 3, 7 and 14 days, and the lenses were separately stored in 12 lens cases for 1, 3 and 7 days. The contamination level of lens cases was determined by counting the numbers of microorganisms, gram negative bacteria and fungi. Results: Only 14% of survey answerers cleaned their lens cases with a brush, rinsed and dried them upside down before next usage of lens case when those lenses were kept for a long time. Furthermore, 54% of total answerers just kept soft contact lens in the case without changing the multipurpose solution. Microorganisms, gram negative bacteria and fungi were detected in lens cases even when soft contact lens were kept for 1 day in the lens case after wearing for 1 day and cleaning it with multipurpose solution. The numbers of microorganisms, gram negative bacteria and fungi in lens cases increased with storage periods of soft contact lens, and also contamination level of lens cases was increased in accordance with wearing period of lens. In the lens cases without changing multipurpose solution, the numbers of microorganisms, gram negative bacteria and fungi increased with storage period of lens with statistical significance. Conclusions: This study showed that lens wearers' concerns on caring contact lens case were not satisfactory. As the result, the contamination of lens cases was related to increase of lens wearing and storage periods suggesting that the proper instruction and education for lens wearers are required.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.324-327
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• 2012

Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba that causes human infections, and recently the incidence of amoebic keratitis has increased among contact lens wearers. In order to investigate Acanthamoeba contamination of contact lens storage cases, a short survey was performed on 57 contact lens wearers, and Acanthamoeba was found in one contact lens storage case. To diagnose Acanthamoeba, the 18s small subunit ribosomal DNA (18s rDNA) gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and subsequently, the isolate was identified as A. lugdunensis. This species was originally isolated from a freshwater pool in France, and was reported recently to be a cause of amoebic keratitis. This observation indicates the need for a large survey to investigate the extent of Acanthamoeba contamination, and suggests that contact lens wearers be aware of the importance of hygiene and of the implications of Acanthamoeba infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2001

We conducted both the small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and mitochondrial (mt) DNA RFLP analyses for a genetic characterization of Acanthamoeba isolates from contact lens storage cases of students in Seoul, Korea. Twenty-three strains of Acanthamoeba from the American Type Culture Collection and twelve clinical isolates from Korean patients were used as reference strains. Thirty-nine isolates from contact lens storage cases were classified into seven types (KA/LS1 , KA/LS2, KA/LS4, KA/LS5, KA/LS7 KA/LS18, KA/LS31). Four types (KA/LS1 , KA/LS2, KA/LS5, KA/LS18) including 33 isolates were regarded as A. castellanii complex by riboprints. KA/LS1 type was the most predominant (51.3%) in the present survey area, followed by KA/LS2 (20.9%), and KA/LSS (7.7%) types. Amoebae of KA/LS1 type had the same mtDNA RFLP and riboprint patterns as KA/E2 and KA/E12 strains, clinical isolates from Korean keratitis patients. Amoebae of KA/LS2 type had the identical mtDNA RFLP patterns with A. castellanii Ma strain, a corneal isolate from an American patient as amoebae of KA/LS5 type, with KA/E3 and KA/E8 strains from other Korean keratitis patients. Amoebae of KA/LS 18 type had identical patterns with JAC/E1, an ocular isolate from a Japanese patient. Three types , which remain unidentified at species level, were not corresponded with any clinical isolate in their mtDNA RFLP and riboprint patterns. Out of 39 isolates analyzed in this study, mtDNA RFLP and riboprint patterns of 33 isolates (84.6%) were identical to already known clinical isolates, and therefore, they may be regarded as potentially keratopathogenic. These results suggest that contact lens wearers in Seoul should pay more attention to hygienic maintenance of contact lens storage cases for the prevention of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.509-515
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• 2017

Purpose: To compare the amoebicidal effects of nephrite containing contact lens (CL) storage cases with conventional CL storage cases. Methods: Acanthamoeba lugdunensis were inoculated onto 5% nephrite containing CL storage cases as well as conventional CL storage cases both with and without silicone hydrogel contact lenses (SHCLs). Then the amount of Acanthamoeba proliferation on CL storage cases and the number of adherent Acanthamoeba on SHCLs were determined and compared. The effects of multipurpose solution (MPS) with and without 1% or 5% nephrite solution on Acanthamoeba adhesion were analyzed. Results: Nephrite containing CL storage cases showed more inhibitory effects on Acanthamoeba proliferation (p = 0.02) and significantly reduced the number of adherent Acanthamoeba on SHCLs compared with conventional CL storage cases, regardless of SHCLs generation (p = 0.001, p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The number of adherent Acanthamoeba on the first generation of SHCLs was significantly reduced by MPS with 1% and 5% nephrite solutions (p = 0.03 and p = 0.004, respectively), but the numbers for the second and third generation SHCLs were not. Conclusions: Nephrite could be used as a new additive component for CL storage cases and multipurpose solutions to improve the disinfection effects on Acanthamoeba.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.33-42
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• 2000

This study was conducted for 356 customers coming to N optometrist office in Masan city in order to evaluate practice of hygienic control of contact lens storage cases. The results were as follows: 1) For disinfection of contact lens storage case, students used wetting saline solution(42.6%), exclusive wetting solution(23.0%) and 21(11.5%) of them didn't practice disinfection. Others besides students used wetting saline solution(29.1%), boiling water(27.3%) and 42(25.5%) of them didn't practice disinfection(P<0.01). 2) For storage case washing solution, 18(85.7%) out of 21 people who belong to high economic class used wetting saline solution, 3(14.3%) used exclusive wetting solution, 141(48.0%) out of 294 people who belong to middle economic class used wetting saline solution, 129(43.9%) used exclusive solution(P<0.01). 3) For wetting solution of storage case, 132(74.6%) out of 177 students used exclusive wetting solution and the rest(25.4%) used wetting saline solution, 102(64.2%) out of 159 others besides students used exclusive wetting solution, 51(32.1%) used wetting saline solution and 6(3.8%) used sold water and city water(P<0.05). 4) 66(94.3%) out of 70 contact lens storage cases were contaminated by bacteria and Serratia marcescens was isolated in 33(47.1%) out of 70 contact lens storage cases.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.341-357
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• 2019

Acanthamoeba, one of free-living amoebae (FLA), remains a high risk of direct contact with this protozoan parasite which is ubiquitous in nature and man-made environment. This pathogenic FLA can cause sight-threatening amoebic keratitis (AK) and fatal granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) though these cases may not commonly be reported in our clinical settings. Acanthamoeba has been detected from different environmental sources namely; soil, water, hotspring, swimming pool, air-conditioner, or contact lens storage cases. The identification of Acanthamoeba is based on morphological appearance and molecular techniques using PCR and DNA sequencing for clinico-epidemiological purposes. Recent treatments have long been ineffective against Acanthamoeba cyst, novel anti-Acanthamoeba agents have therefore been extensively investigated. There are efforts to utilize synthetic chemicals, lead compounds from medicinal plant extracts, and animal products to combat Acanthamoeba infection. Applied nanotechnology, an advanced technology, has shown to enhance the anti-Acanthamoeba activity in the encapsulated nanoparticles leading to new therapeutic options. This review attempts to provide an overview of the available data and studies on the occurrence of pathogenic Acanthamoeba among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members with the aim of identifying some potential contributing factors such as distribution, demographic profile of the patients, possible source of the parasite, mode of transmission and treatment. Further, this review attempts to provide future direction for prevention and control of the Acanthamoeba infection.