[Acanthamoebae, Naegleria and other free-living Amoebae in cooling and rinsing water of dental treatment units]

Abstract

215 water samples were taken from 49 dental treatment units and investigated for the existence of free-living amoebae. In all water-carrying systems of the dental treatment units it was possible to verify the incidence of one or more amoeba species. In 8.2 per cent of the units Naegleria species was found and in 12.2 per cent Acanthamoeba species was present. Seven Naegleria and six Acanthamoeba strains (2 A. castellanii and 4 A. polyphaga) were isolated. From samples originating from 12 dental treatment units (DTU) another 42 amoeba strains were isolated which consisted of 14 different species within 9 classes. Among them Vannella mira (in 19 per cent of samples) and Hartmannella vermiformis (10.6 per cent) were found to be the most frequent species, followed by H. cantabrigensis (9.5 per cent), V. platypodia, Platyamoeba stenopodia and V. simplex (7.1 per cent each). In 10 per cent of samples monotrichous and bitrichous flagellates such as the Bodo species were found, whereas two samples contained ova, larvae and adult free-living nematodes. Among the isolated Naegleria strains no thermophilic strain was present. Consequently they belong to the N. gruberi complex. Among the Acanthamoebae five of the six strains were thermophilic. All strains were investigated for pathogenic properties by means of the mice inoculation test. Two strains proved pathogenic - it was possible to isolate them from the brain and lung of dead mice. Another two strains proved to have invasive properties because they were isolated from the brain of infected animals; however, they did not give rise to disease or death of the respective animals. Supplementary microbiological tests demonstrated the existence of bacteria and fungi in 84 per cent of dental treatment units. Pseudomonas spec. were detected in 75% of dental units, Serratia marcescens in 2% and fungi in nearly 3%. 58.3% of all water samples contained total germ counts of more than 100/ml.