الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Free living amoebae such as genera Acanthamoeba and Naegleria have been commonly found in various environment water and soil sources throughout the world. They were important pathogenic agents for humans and animals. Acanthamoeba species were known to be the opportunistic pathogens in granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. Further, some Acanthamoeba species were the causative agents of Acanthamoebakeratitis. Regarding Naegleria species, among its different species only Naegleria fowleri known to cause disease to man. It causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.
A cross sectional study was performed during the period from January to December 2018, where 300 environmental samples were collected from different areas in Minia Governorate, Egypt. Also, 60 corneal scrapping samples were collected from Ophthalmology Clinic, Minia University Hospital. All collected samples were divided into two portions: First part was used for direct smear examination and staining. Second part was used for culturing and molecular diagnosis.
This work revealed the followings:
1- Out of 150 water samples, 84 (56%) samples were positive as Acanthamoeba-like morphology on non-nutrient agar culture
2- Out of 82 streams and pond water samples, 40 tap water samples, 20 tank water samples, 5 swimming pools water samples and 3 Nile River water samples, 58 (70.7%), 15 (37.5%), 6 (30%), 3 (60%) and 2 (66.7%) samples were positive for Acanthamoeba-like morphology on non-nutrient agar culture respectively. This data was statistically significant.
3- Out of 115 streets and gardens soil samples, 20 dust samples, 10 sewage samples and 5 air conditioners samples, 51 (44.4%), 15 (75%), 8 (80%) and 1 (20%) samples were positive for Acanthamoeba-like morphology on non-nutrient agar culture respectively. This data was statistically significant.
4- Out of 159 environmental samples positive by non-nutrient agar culture, there was 135 (84.9%) samples were positive by PCR using specific primers for Acanthamoeba species.
5- Out of 300 environmental samples, 70 (23.3%) samples show growth on NNA culture at 40°C and 57 (19%) samples can infect mice.
6- Out of 150 water samples, 24 (16%) samples were positive as Naegleria-like morphology on non-nutrient agar culture.
7- Out of 82 streams and pond water samples, 40 tap water samples, 20 tank water samples, 5 swimming pools water samples and 3 Nile River water samples, 12 (14.6%), 5 (12.5% ), 4 (20%), 2 (40%) and 1 (33.3%) samples were positive as Naegleria-like morphology on non-nutrient agar culture respectively. This data was statistically not significant.
8- Out of 115 streets and gardens soil samples, 20 dust samples, 10 sewage samples and 5 air conditioners samples, 6 (5.2%), 2 (10%), 1 (10%) and 0 (0%) samples were positive as Naegleria-like morphology on non-nutrient agar culture respectively. This data was statistically not significant.
9- Out of 33 environmental samples positive by non-nutrient agar culture there was 13 (39.4%) samples were positive by PCR using specific primers for genera Naegleria. While using specific primers for specific species; Naegleria fowleri, was negative for all Naegleria isolates.
10- Out of 300 environmental samples, 7 (21.2%) samples show growth on non-nutrient agar culture at 40°C and 6 (18.2%) samples can infect mice.
11- Out of 33 of 300 environmental samples positive by non-nutrient agar culture there was 27 (81.8%) samples showed flagellate form in distilled water (flagellation test).
12- Out of 300 environmental samples collected in different seasons of the year, the prevalence of FLA was higher in summer (39.3%) then spring and autumn and lowest at winner (9.1%).
This work concluded that:
FLA were abundant and could be found in different environmental sources in MiniaGovernorate, Egypt. FLA were found in water of streams, ponds, tap, tanks, swimming pools and Nile River. Also, they were detected in soil from gardens and streets, dust, sewage and air conditioning systems. Some of these species were pathogenic and showed growth on culture under high temperature.