Comparison of Fluorescence Microscopy and Different Growth Media Culture Methods for Acanthamoeba Keratitis Diagnosis.

Comparison of Fluorescence Microscopy and Different Growth Media Culture Methods for Acanthamoeba Keratitis Diagnosis.
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015 May 11;
Authors: Peretz A, Geffen Y, Socea SD, Pastukh N, Graffi S
Abstract
Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), a potentially blinding infection of the cornea, is caused by a free-living protozoan. Culture and microscopic examination of corneal scraping tissue material is the conventional method for identifying Acanthamoeba. In this article, we compared several methods for AK diagnosis of 32 patients: microscopic examination using fluorescent dye, specific culture on growth media-non-nutrient agar (NNA), culture on liquid growth media-peptone yeast glucose (PYG), and TYI-S-33. AK was found in 14 patients. Thirteen of the specimens were found AK positive by fluorescence microscopic examination, 11 specimens were found AK positive on PYG growth media, and 9 specimens were found AK positive on TYI-S-33 growth media. Only five specimens were found AK positive on NNA growth media. Therefore, we recommend using fluorescence microscopy technique and culture method, especially PYG liquid media.
PMID: 25962772 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - May 11, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Peretz A, Geffen Y, Socea SD, Pastukh N, Graffi S Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research