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Angelo Rafael S. Cruz and Windell L. Rivera were able to identify and analyze

the genotypes of the Acanthamoeba species actively present in the

Philippine population. his is considered as an application of modern

biotechnology. he research was done in order to determine the group of

people who have high ris! of contacting Acanthamoeba species" where it can

be ac#uired" what diseases a speci$c genotype can bring" and other

genotype%s& which is yet to be !nown and must begiven attention in the

Philippines

o do this" the researchers collected human nasal swabs from two groups. %'&

students of (nversity of the Philippines" %)& laborers fre#uently e*posed to

garbage" soil" and dust. ' out of +, students" + out of '', for the laborers"

and - out - soil samples turned out positive for Acanthamoeba species.

hus" the students were labelled as lowe*posure group while the laborers

became the high e*posure group. /f those ') Acanthamoeba samples

isolated" 0 were se#uenced. (sing the (S 1ational Center for 2iotechnology

3nformation" 4 isolates were identi$ed as 4" and 5 isolates were genotype

-. 6enotype '' were isolated from the soil ad the $rst o be reported in the

Philippines.

Acanthamoeba sp. is an opportunistic freeliving pathogen that is widelydistributed in the environment including soil" water systems and air.Currently" there are '7 !nown genotypes of Acanthamoeba based on the Rnsgene" ' to '7. Some genotypes are pathogenic" causing human diseasesli!e the debilitating Acanthamoeba !eratitis that can cause blindness" andthe fatal Acanthamoeba granulomatous encephalitis %A68&. Acanthamoebaspp. have been isolated from air samples and from nasal epithelial surfacesof healthy human"

usually during the windy periods.Acanthamoeba cysts are easily dispersed by

air and can reach the nasal epithelial surfaces. 9rom the nasal cavity" it cantravel to the central nervous system through the respiratory tract and the

blood stream. his present study aims to discriminate the Rns genotypes of

Acanthamoeba spp. obtained from the nasal epithelium of human.

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With these results" we were able to discern the need for more healthy

provisions especially for those who have high e*posure to these pathogen.

he government and other health groups must also be cautious of the new

strain which :ust arised in the Philippines" genotype ''. his may be

another disease causing strain and could be a fatal one. hus" this study calls

for reevaluation of the country;s health and sanitary standards.

Reference