Amoebological study of the atmosphere of San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico

A one year round survey was conducted for isolation of free living amoebae (FLA) in the city of San Luis Potosi, (SLP), Mexico, which is placed in a desert environment. Samples were taken by modified impinger method and cultivated in laboratory conditions for FLA isolation following a week period of rehidration. 57 strains were isolated, 39% belonged to Acanthamoeba genus (which is important because it bears opportunistic pathogens that produce amoebic keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis in humans), 16% to Hartmannella, 9% to Vahlkampfia and the other proportion was divided among 6 other genera. The isolations were more abundant during dry season and the main genera were present in all four stands. The difference among them was the species variety which is discused as connected with abundance of organic wastes and lack of urbanization near the stations.