High Occurrence of Pathogenic Free-Living Amoebae in Arid Environments

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Molecular biology
• Public health

Background:

• Free-living amoebae (FLA) are widespread protozoa, with some species posing human health risks.
• Understanding FLA distribution is crucial for public health, especially in areas with human activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and molecularly characterize FLA in water and soil samples from Fuerteventura.
• To assess the microbiological quality of water samples and identify potential bacterial contaminants.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 31 water and soil samples using culture and molecular techniques (q-PCR, PCR, Sanger sequencing).
• Microbiological quality assessment including detection of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp.

Main Results:

• Acanthamoeba was the most prevalent FLA genus in soil; Vermamoeba vermiformis was most common in water.
• Heterogeneous contamination patterns observed, with E. coli and Salmonella spp. detected in multiple samples.
• qPCR offered faster and cheaper detection, while culture confirmed FLA viability and diversity.

Conclusions:

• Potentially pathogenic FLA are present in Fuerteventura habitats linked to human populations.
• FLA represent a potential public health concern, necessitating ongoing monitoring and research.
• Integrated approaches using molecular and culture methods are valuable for comprehensive FLA assessment.