[Isolation of free-living amoebae from nasal mucosa of healthy individuals]

Abstract

In 13 out of 140 recruits examined (9.3%) one or several species of Acanthamoeba were identified in smears of the nasal mucosa. From among 20 isolated strains of amoebae the following species were determined: Acanthamoeba castellanii (42.2%), A. polyphaga (31.5%), A. palestinensis (26.3%), A. astronyxis (5.3%). The persons contaminated with amoebae were in good health at the time of sampling. It is assumed that an aerogenic contamination of the carriers took place.