[Studies of limax-amoebae in a physiotherapeutical indoor-swimming-pool (author's transl)]

Abstract

A physiotherapeutical indoor swimmingpool in a hospital was inspected for the presence of potentially pathogenic Limax-amoebae. In cultures inoculated with material from water samples and from cotton swabs taken from the bottom and walls of the pool the following species of Limax-amoebae could be cloned and identified: Naegleria gruberi, Hartmannella vermiformis, Acanthamoeba castellamii, A. polyphaga, A. palestinesis, Vannella mira, V. platypodia, Platyamoeba stenopodia, Echinamoebia exundans and Vexillifera bacilipedes. Two further strains of unidentified Acanthamoeba and 1 of the genus Vanella were observed. 3 to 5 species remained unidentified. Beyond this numerous monotrichous flagellates and Colpoda steini, a holotrichous ciliate, multiplied in water samples and agar plates. The concentration of the total number of pelagic amoebae increased from 10 to 20/liter one week after exchange of the pool-water to 100-1000/liter after 3 weeks and finally to more than 10(4) per liter after a period of 2 months. The isolated strains of Nageleria, Acanthamoeba and Hartmannella were tested for pathogenicity by means of the intranasal mice inoculation test. The clones of Naegleria were submitted to a temperature- and salt-tolerance test. All of the strains tested by these methods proved to be nonpathogenic.