Acanthamoeba keratitis is a serious infection of the eye which can result in permanent visual impairment. Therefore this study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents on three Acanthamoeba clinical isolates (Hs6, HKL 95 and HTH 73). Antimicrobial agents used in this study were polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) and chlorhexidine and both were serially diluted. Cyst suspensions from all three strains were tested against the antimicrobial agents, respectively. After 48 h of incubation at 37 degrees C, the suspension was filtered and the filter membrane was placed onto non-nutrient agar plate lawned with heat-killed Escherichia coli. The plates were examined daily under the inverted microscope until day 14 but were negative for Acanthamoeba trophozoites. The presence of trophozoites indicated ineffectiveness of the antimicrobial agents. Both antimicrobial agents used were found to be effective against Acanthamoeba cysts for all the strains tested. PHMB gave minimum cysticidal concentration (MCC) mean value of 4.232 mu g/mL and chlorhexidine showed MCC Mean value of 3.906 mu g/mL. So, from this study, it can be concluded that PHMB and chlorhexidine were effective in killing the tested Acanthamoeba cysts.

In endemic areas of intestinal parasitic infections, prevalence of Blastocystis sp in animals has not been clearly elucidated. This is the first study of the distribution of Blastocystis sp subtypes in animals reared by Orang Ash population in Pahang, Malaysia during a wet and dry season. Fecal samples of dogs, chickens, goats, ducks, swans, birds and cows were collected and subjected to PCR amplification and sequencing of Blastocystis small subunit rDNA. Of 127 fecal samples collected during the wet season, 9% were positive for Blastocystis sp, with Blastocystis sp ST3 being predominant (16%) followed by ST1 (4%), ST7 (3%), ST4 (2%), ST10 (2%), ST6 (1%), and ST9 (1%). Of 146 fecal samples collected during the dry season 37% were positive, with Blastocystis sp ST3 being predominant (10%) followed by ST1 (8%), ST7 (6%), ST4 (5%), ST8 (3%), ST2 (1%), ST6 (1%), ST9 (1%), and ST10 (1%). High prevalence of Blastocystis sp was observed in dogs and chickens which carried a diverse range of subtypes especially during the dry season. Dogs and chickens might comprise a part of the transmission dynamics of the infection in the population. Health education related to awareness of hygienic practice and disposal of animals waste should be regularly provided and monitored to prevent the transmission of Blastocystis sp infection in this population.