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 (HS 6, 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�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 ?g/mL and chlorhexidine showed MCC mean value of 3.906 ?g/mL. So, from this study, it can be concluded that PHMB and chlorhexidine were effective in killing the tested Acanthamoeba cysts.

Introduction: Acanthamoeba spp. are ubiquitous free-living protozoa that are widely distributed in all types of environment throughout the world. Acanthamoeba sp. is the causative agent of two diseases; keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. Contaminated contact lenses and corneal lesions are the major risk factors in causing Acanthamoeba keratitis. Objective: The main objective of this study is to isolate Acanthamoeba sp. from contact lens paraphernalia. Materials and Methods: One hundred and seventy five swabs from contact lens paraphernalia were obtained, consisting of 66 swabs of contact lenses, 52 swabs of contact lens storage cases and 57 samples of contact lens disinfecting solutions. Filtration and culture techniques were used to isolate the organism using standard methods. Results: This study successfully isolated Acanthamoeba sp. from contact lenses and contact lens storage cases at 10.6% and 13.5% respectively. However no Acanthamoeba sp. was isolated from the contact lens disinfecting solution. Many of those contact lens wearers whose contact lens paraphernalia were positive for Acanthamoeba showed a deviation from contact lens wear and care procedures recommended by the lens manufacturer and health professionals. Conclusion: The findings that contact lens paraphernalia harbours Acanthamoeba is particularly worrying as the number of cases is increasing. Contact lens wearers should be educated regarding proper hygienic care of their contact lenses. � 2013 Japan International Cultural Exchange Foundation & Japan Health Sciences University.

Microscopy technique is widely used in the detection of Blastocystis sp. infection. This study was performed to compare two microscopy-based techniques; in vitro cultivation of faecal specimens in Jones' medium (IVC) followed by Wheatley Trichrome staining and fixed-PVA faecal specimens (PVA) followed by Wheatley Trichrome staining with single-round polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as the reference technique. Examination was performed on 466 faecal samples obtained from Orang Asli community in Pahang, Malaysia. Detection rate of Blastocystis sp. was highest in IVC (35.6%) followed by PVA (20.0%). Single-round PCR detected 41.0% of the faecal specimens. The sensitivity and specificity of PVA and IVC compared to the reference technique were 75.3% (95% CI: 65.2-83.6) and 68.5% (CI: 63.7-73.3), and 88.6% (CI: 82.7-93.0) and 86.3% (CI: 81.9-90.0) respectively. The agreement between the reference technique and PVA showed fair statistically significant agreement by Cohen Kappa statistics of (K=0.318, p<0.001), meanwhile substantial statistically significant agreement was observed between PCR and IVC by Cohen Kappa (K=0.727, p<0.001). Therefore, in vitro cultivation in Jones' medium followed by Wheatley Trichrome staining of faecal specimens should be used as a screening technique in the detection Blastocystis sp. infections. � 2017 Oriental Scientific Publishing Company. Al rights reserved.

Background: Alternating wet and dry seasons may play an important role in the acquisition and distribution of Blastocystis subtype infection in the tropics. This cross-sectional study was therefore conducted to provide the prevalence of Blastocystis and to determine the potential risk factors associated with each subtype during the wet and dry seasons in the Aboriginal community, Pahang, Malaysia. Methods: A total of 473 faecal samples were collected: 256 (54.1%) and 217 (45.9%) samples were obtained during the wet (October-November 2014) and the dry season (June 2015), respectively. All fresh faecal samples were subjected to molecular analysis for subtype and allele identification. Results: Of the 473 samples, 42.6% and 37.8% were positive for Blastocystis ST1, ST2, ST3 and ST4 during wet and dry seasons, respectively. Prevalence of Blastocystis ST1 was significantly higher during the wet season compared to the dry season (Z = 2.146, P < 0.05). Analysis of the association of each Blastocystis subtype with socioeconomic characteristics showed the presence of other family members infected with Blastocystis ST3 and the use of stored river water for domestic activities were the significant risk factors for Blastocystis ST3 infections during both seasons. Untreated water supply and low monthly household income (less or equal to RM 500) were the other significant risk factors for Blastocystis ST3 infections during wet and dry season, respectively. The presence of other family members with Blastocystis ST1 and ST2 was the only significant risk factor associated with ST1 and ST2 infections during both seasons. We hypothesise that transmission of Blastocystis ST1, ST2 and ST3 occurred from person to person during both seasons. The waterborne transmission was also identified as a mode of transmission of Blastocystis ST3. Conclusion: The significant risk factors identified in this study were important in the dynamic transmission of Blastocystis infections during both seasons. Provision of treated water supply and health education are affirmative actions to be taken to control Blastocystis infections in this community. 2017 The Author(s).