First Evidence for Colonizing of Acanthamoeba T4 Genotype in Urinary Tracts of Patients with Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

Background: Limited evidence about the presence of Acanthamoeba spp. in urine specimens collected from urinary catheters of the patients in the intensive care units persuaded our study. No evidence has been found about colonizing of Acanthamoeba spp., in urinary tracts of patients with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) yet.

Methods: In this study, 50 urine samples were collected from patients presenting with recurrent UTI. The type of bacteria causing UTI was determined by using bacteriological tests. To cultivate Acanthamoeba spp., in a sterile condition, 10 mL of urine was centrifuged and the sediment was cultivated on non-nutrient agar. Genotypes were determined by sequencing the DF3 region of the 18S rRNA gene.

Results: The bacteriological test findings on the urine samples of the UTI patients (n = 30) demonstrated that those were found to be positive for Escherichia coli (n = 17), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 6), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 4) and Klebsiella spp. (n = 3) respectively. Moreover, a total of 50 urine samples was examined; 6 (6/50; 12%) and 11 (11/50; 22%) were positive by using culture and the PCR test for Acanthamoeba spp., respectively. Sequencing analysis showed all isolates were T4 genotype.

Conclusions: Our data showed that the high relative prevalence of Acanthamoeba T4 genotype spp., in the urine of recurrent UTI patients. As well as, providing the first evidence for colonizing of the Acanthamoeba in the urinary tracts of patients with recurrent UTIs. These findings, warrant further investigation among those patients to fully appraise the role of Acanthamoeba spp., as possible latent carriers for resistant bacteria and biofilm formation in the future.