Acanthamoeba castellanii: Growth, encystment, excystment and biocide susceptibility

• Published in: The Journal of infection Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 43 - 48
• Main Authors: Khunkitti, W., Lloyd, D., Furr, J.R., Russell, A.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acanthamoeba - drug effects; Acanthamoeba - growth & development; Animals; Biguanides - pharmacology; Biochemistry. Physiology. Immunology. Molecular biology; Biological and medical sciences; Chlorhexidine - pharmacology; Disinfectants - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Life Cycle Stages; Protozoa; Excystment; Protozoa; Encystment; Lobosea; Trophozoite; Drug susceptibility test; Growth; Parasiticid; Chlorhexidine; Acanthamoeba castellanii; In vitro
• ISSN: 0163-4453; 1532-2742
• DOI: 10.1016/S0163-4453(98)93054-7

Stages in the encystment and excystment processes of Acanthamoeba castellanii have been studied. The kinetics of encystment involved measurements of the three phases (pre-encystment, cyst initiation and cyst wall synthesis). Excystment, starting from a mature cyst, involved pre-emergence, penetration outwards of the cyst wall and free trophozoite. The sensitivity to biocides of trophozoites in the exponential growth phase, pre-encystment trophozoites, mature cysts and pre-excystment cysts has been investigated. Some differences in relative sensitivity to a bisbiguanide (chlorhexidine) and a polymeric biguanide (polyhexamethylene biguanide) were observed, but mature cysts were always the most resistant cellular form.