Assessment of Pathogenic Free-Living Amoebae in a Wastewater Treatment Plant in Beheira Governorate, Egypt | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries | ||
| Volume 29, Issue 5, September and October 2025, Pages 3329-3340 PDF (512.21 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.429926.6724 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Yasmen Abd el-rahman Abdelaziz1; Nahed Salah Amer1; Ahmad Zakaria Al-Herrawy2; Ahmed AbdelAziz Mohammed3; Amgad Salahuldeen* 4 | ||
| 1Department of Agriculture,Zoology and Nematology faculty of Agriculture(Girls branch),Al-Azhar Univarsity,Cairo,Egypt | ||
| 2Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt | ||
| 3Zoology departement, Faculty of Science, Al-azhar Univ. | ||
| 4zoology department, Faculty of Science, Al-azhar Univ. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Among the genera of free-living amoebae (FLAs) existing in nature, some Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris, Naegleria fowleri, and Sappinia diploidea have an association with human disease. Among these, Acanthamoeba spp. and Balamuthia mandrillaris are recognized as opportunistic pathogens that may lead to severe infections affecting the CNS, lungs, sinuses, and skin, primarily in immunocompromised individuals. However, their occurrence in sewage-related environments still needs to be systematically documented. The present study aimed to isolate and morphologically identify different FLA species from the Kom El Tarfaya Wastewater Treatment Plant in Beheira Governorate, Egypt. Wastewater samples were collected from this plant between January and December 2024. Samples were processed for the detection of free-living amoebae using non-nutrient agar (NNA). Based on the morphological criteria, FLA isolates were identified to the genus level. By morphological identification, FLA species of three genera: Naegleria, Vahlkampfia, and Vermamoeba were encountered. Members of the Naegleria were recorded in inlet wastewater samples (16.7%), while genus Vahlkampfia spp. had the same occurrence of 4.2% in both inlet and outlet wastewater samples. Genus Vermamoeba spp. had the same occurrence of 8.33% in both wastewater samples. Overall, the findings indicate a high risk associated with sewage-related environments, as the prevalence of FLAs, including pathogenic strains, is even found in treated sewage water. These results may be valuable for both risk remediation actions against amoebic infections and future research endeavors. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| FLAs; Isolation; Identification; Wastewater | ||
|
Statistics Article View: 8 PDF Download: 12 |
||
