DOI: 10.1128/aem.64.5.1822-1824.1998. Comparison of Free-Living Amoebae in Hot Water Systems of Hospitals with Isolates from Moist Sanitary Areas by Identifying Genera and Determining Temperature Tolerance

Comparison of Free-Living Amoebae in Hot Water Systems of Hospitals with Isolates from Moist Sanitary Areas by Identifying Genera and Determining Temperature Tolerance

10.1128/aem.64.5.1822-1824.1998

Crossref journal-article

American Society for Microbiology

Applied and Environmental Microbiology (235)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Legionella-contaminated hot water systems and moist sanitary areas in six hospitals were sampled for amoebae by following a standardized collection protocol. Genus identifications and temperature tolerance determinations were made. Amoebae identified as Hartmannella vermiformis (65%), Echinamoebae spp. (15%), Saccamoebae spp. (12%), and Vahlkampfia spp. (9%) were detected in 29 of 56 (52%) hot water samples. Twenty-three of 49 (47%) swabs obtained from moist areas were amoeba positive. The following genera were identified: Acanthamoeba (22%), Naegleria (22%), Vahlkampfia (20%), Hartmannella (15%), and Vanella (7%). The temperature tolerance of amoebae from hot water systems was strikingly different from that of amoebae from moist areas. At 44°C on agar, 59% of amoebic isolates sampled from hot water systems showed growth. The corresponding value for isolates from moist areas was only 17%. Six Acanthamoeba isolates from the moist areas were considered potential pathogens. Four Hartmannella and two Saccamoeba isolates from hot water could be cultured at 53°C.

Bibliography

Rohr, U., Weber, S., Michel, R., Selenka, F., & Wilhelm, M. (1998). Comparison of Free-Living Amoebae in Hot Water Systems of Hospitals with Isolates from Moist Sanitary Areas by Identifying Genera and Determining Temperature Tolerance. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 64(5), 1822â1824.

Authors 5

Ute Rohr (first)
Susanne Weber (additional)
Rolf Michel (additional)
Fidelis Selenka (additional)
Michael Wilhelm (additional)

References 24 Referenced 120

10.1001/jama.1990.03440210074036
10.1016/S0163-4453(94)91893-7
De Jonckheere J. F. (1979) Pathogenic free-living amoebae in swimming pools: survey in Belgium.Ann. Microbiol.130B:205–212. / Ann. Microbiol. / Pathogenic free-living amoebae in swimming pools: survey in Belgium by De Jonckheere J. F. (1979)
10.1128/aem.39.4.681-685.1980
10.1017/S0022172400070078
10.4269/ajtmh.1977.26.10
Exner M. Tuschewitzki G. J. Langer B. Wernicke F. Pleischl S. (1992) Vorkommen und Bewertung von Legionellen in Krankenhäusern und anderen Großgebäuden.Forum Staedte-Hyg.43:130–140. / Forum Staedte-Hyg. / Vorkommen und Bewertung von Legionellen in Krankenhäusern und anderen Großgebäuden by Exner M. (1992)
10.1128/aem.47.3.467-471.1984
10.1126/science.178.4063.869
Henke M. Seidel K. M. (1986) Association between Legionella pneumophila and amoebae in water.Isr. J. Med. Sci.22:690–695. / Isr. J. Med. Sci. / Association between Legionella pneumophila and amoebae in water by Henke M. (1986)
John D. T. (1993) Opportunistically pathogenic free-living amoebae in parasitic protozoa. in Parasitic protozoa eds KreierP.BakerJ. R. (Academic Press San Diego Calif) 2nd ed.3. (10.1016/B978-0-12-426013-9.50009-X)
10.1128/aem.59.12.4096-4100.1993
Martinez A. J. Janitschke K. (1979) Encephalitis due to Naegleria and Acanthamoeba. Comparison of organisms and diseases.Immun. Infekt.7:57–64. / Immun. Infekt. / Encephalitis due to Naegleria and Acanthamoeba. Comparison of organisms and diseases by Martinez A. J. (1979)
Michel R. Menn T. (1991) Acanthamoebae, naegleriae, and invertebrates isolated from wet areas of physiotherapeutical facilities of hospitals.Zentbl. Hyg. Umweltmed.191:423–437. / Zentbl. Hyg. Umweltmed. / Acanthamoebae, naegleriae, and invertebrates isolated from wet areas of physiotherapeutical facilities of hospitals by Michel R. (1991)
10.1128/iai.60.1.296-301.1992
10.1016/0923-2508(91)90081-K
10.1128/iai.50.2.449-452.1985
Page F. C. (1988) A new key to freshwater and soil gymnamoebae. (Freshwater Biological Association Ambleside Cumbria United Kingdom).
Page F. C. Siemensa F. J. (1991) Nackte Rhizopoda und Heliozoa. (Gustav Fischer Verlag Stuttgart Germany).
10.1128/aem.57.1.163-167.1991
Rowbotham T. J. (1986) Current views on the relationship between amoebae, legionellae and man.Isr. J. Med. Sci.22:678–689. / Isr. J. Med. Sci. / Current views on the relationship between amoebae, legionellae and man by Rowbotham T. J. (1986)
10.1128/aem.58.6.2001-2004.1992
10.1128/aem.57.7.1950-1955.1991
Wright P. (1989) Acanthamoeba keratitis.Abstracts of the International Conference on Biology and Pathogenicity of Free-Living Amoebae.

Dates

Type	When
Created	5 years, 8 months ago (Dec. 19, 2019, 2:35 p.m.)
Deposited	3 years, 6 months ago (Feb. 22, 2022, 8:40 p.m.)
Indexed	2 months, 2 weeks ago (June 12, 2025, 8:27 a.m.)
Issued	27 years, 3 months ago (May 1, 1998)
Published	27 years, 3 months ago (May 1, 1998)
Published Print	27 years, 3 months ago (May 1, 1998)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Rohr_1998, title={Comparison of Free-Living Amoebae in Hot Water Systems of Hospitals with Isolates from Moist Sanitary Areas by Identifying Genera and Determining Temperature Tolerance}, volume={64}, ISSN={1098-5336}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/aem.64.5.1822-1824.1998}, DOI={10.1128/aem.64.5.1822-1824.1998}, number={5}, journal={Applied and Environmental Microbiology}, publisher={American Society for Microbiology}, author={Rohr, Ute and Weber, Susanne and Michel, Rolf and Selenka, Fidelis and Wilhelm, Michael}, year={1998}, month=may, pages={1822–1824} }

JSON

{
  "indexed": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2025,
        6,
        12
      ]
    ],
    "date-time": "2025-06-12T12:27:36Z",
    "timestamp": 1749731256697
  },
  "reference-count": 24,
  "publisher": "American Society for Microbiology",
  "issue": "5",
  "license": [
    {
      "start": {
        "date-parts": [
          [
            1998,
            5,
            1
          ]
        ],
        "date-time": "1998-05-01T00:00:00Z",
        "timestamp": 893980800000
      },
      "content-version": "tdm",
      "delay-in-days": 0,
      "URL": "https://journals.asm.org/non-commercial-tdm-license"
    }
  ],
  "content-domain": {
    "domain": [
      "journals.asm.org"
    ],
    "crossmark-restriction": true
  },
  "published-print": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        1998,
        5
      ]
    ]
  },
  "abstract": "<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title>\n          <jats:p>\n            Legionella-contaminated hot water systems and moist sanitary areas in six hospitals were sampled for amoebae by following a standardized collection protocol. Genus identifications and temperature tolerance determinations were made. Amoebae identified as\n            <jats:italic>Hartmannella vermiformis</jats:italic>\n            (65%),\n            <jats:italic>Echinamoebae</jats:italic>\n            spp. (15%),\n            <jats:italic>Saccamoebae</jats:italic>\n            spp. (12%), and\n            <jats:italic>Vahlkampfia</jats:italic>\n            spp. (9%) were detected in 29 of 56 (52%) hot water samples. Twenty-three of 49 (47%) swabs obtained from moist areas were amoeba positive. The following genera were identified:\n            <jats:italic>Acanthamoeba</jats:italic>\n            (22%),\n            <jats:italic>Naegleria</jats:italic>\n            (22%),\n            <jats:italic>Vahlkampfia</jats:italic>\n            (20%),\n            <jats:italic>Hartmannella</jats:italic>\n            (15%), and\n            <jats:italic>Vanella</jats:italic>\n            (7%). The temperature tolerance of amoebae from hot water systems was strikingly different from that of amoebae from moist areas. At 44\u00b0C on agar, 59% of amoebic isolates sampled from hot water systems showed growth. The corresponding value for isolates from moist areas was only 17%. Six\n            <jats:italic>Acanthamoeba</jats:italic>\n            isolates from the moist areas were considered potential pathogens. Four\n            <jats:italic>Hartmannella</jats:italic>\n            and two\n            <jats:italic>Saccamoeba</jats:italic>\n            isolates from hot water could be cultured at 53\u00b0C.\n          </jats:p>",
  "DOI": "10.1128/aem.64.5.1822-1824.1998",
  "type": "journal-article",
  "created": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2019,
        12,
        19
      ]
    ],
    "date-time": "2019-12-19T19:35:19Z",
    "timestamp": 1576784119000
  },
  "page": "1822-1824",
  "update-policy": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/asmj-crossmark-policy-page",
  "source": "Crossref",
  "is-referenced-by-count": 120,
  "title": "Comparison of Free-Living Amoebae in Hot Water Systems of Hospitals with Isolates from Moist Sanitary Areas by Identifying Genera and Determining Temperature Tolerance",
  "prefix": "10.1128",
  "volume": "64",
  "author": [
    {
      "given": "Ute",
      "family": "Rohr",
      "sequence": "first",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Institut f\u00fcr Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Ruhr-Universit\u00e4t Bochum, D-44801 Bochum,1and"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "given": "Susanne",
      "family": "Weber",
      "sequence": "additional",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Institut f\u00fcr Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Ruhr-Universit\u00e4t Bochum, D-44801 Bochum,1and"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "given": "Rolf",
      "family": "Michel",
      "sequence": "additional",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Ernst-Rodenwaldt-Institut, D-56065 Koblenz,2 Germany"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "given": "Fidelis",
      "family": "Selenka",
      "sequence": "additional",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Institut f\u00fcr Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Ruhr-Universit\u00e4t Bochum, D-44801 Bochum,1and"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "given": "Michael",
      "family": "Wilhelm",
      "sequence": "additional",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Institut f\u00fcr Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Ruhr-Universit\u00e4t Bochum, D-44801 Bochum,1and"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "member": "235",
  "reference": [
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_2_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1001/jama.1990.03440210074036"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_3_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/S0163-4453(94)91893-7"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_4_2",
      "first-page": "205",
      "article-title": "Pathogenic free-living amoebae in swimming pools: survey in Belgium",
      "volume": "130",
      "author": "De Jonckheere J. F.",
      "year": "1979",
      "unstructured": "De Jonckheere J. F. (1979) Pathogenic free-living amoebae in swimming pools: survey in Belgium.Ann. Microbiol.130B:205\u2013212.",
      "journal-title": "Ann. Microbiol."
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_5_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1128/aem.39.4.681-685.1980"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_6_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1017/S0022172400070078"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_7_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.4269/ajtmh.1977.26.10"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_8_2",
      "first-page": "130",
      "article-title": "Vorkommen und Bewertung von Legionellen in Krankenh\u00e4usern und anderen Gro\u00dfgeb\u00e4uden",
      "volume": "43",
      "author": "Exner M.",
      "year": "1992",
      "unstructured": "Exner M. Tuschewitzki G. J. Langer B. Wernicke F. Pleischl S. (1992) Vorkommen und Bewertung von Legionellen in Krankenh\u00e4usern und anderen Gro\u00dfgeb\u00e4uden.Forum Staedte-Hyg.43:130\u2013140.",
      "journal-title": "Forum Staedte-Hyg."
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_9_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1128/aem.47.3.467-471.1984"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_10_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1126/science.178.4063.869"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_11_2",
      "first-page": "690",
      "article-title": "Association between Legionella pneumophila and amoebae in water",
      "volume": "22",
      "author": "Henke M.",
      "year": "1986",
      "unstructured": "Henke M. Seidel K. M. (1986) Association between Legionella pneumophila and amoebae in water.Isr. J. Med. Sci.22:690\u2013695.",
      "journal-title": "Isr. J. Med. Sci."
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_12_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "crossref",
      "unstructured": "John\nD. T.\n (1993) Opportunistically pathogenic free-living amoebae in parasitic protozoa. in Parasitic protozoa eds KreierP.BakerJ. R. (Academic Press San Diego Calif) 2nd ed.3.",
      "DOI": "10.1016/B978-0-12-426013-9.50009-X"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_13_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1128/aem.59.12.4096-4100.1993"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_14_2",
      "first-page": "57",
      "article-title": "Encephalitis due to Naegleria and Acanthamoeba. Comparison of organisms and diseases",
      "volume": "7",
      "author": "Martinez A. J.",
      "year": "1979",
      "unstructured": "Martinez A. J. Janitschke K. (1979) Encephalitis due to Naegleria and Acanthamoeba. Comparison of organisms and diseases.Immun. Infekt.7:57\u201364.",
      "journal-title": "Immun. Infekt."
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_15_2",
      "first-page": "423",
      "article-title": "Acanthamoebae, naegleriae, and invertebrates isolated from wet areas of physiotherapeutical facilities of hospitals",
      "volume": "191",
      "author": "Michel R.",
      "year": "1991",
      "unstructured": "Michel R. Menn T. (1991) Acanthamoebae, naegleriae, and invertebrates isolated from wet areas of physiotherapeutical facilities of hospitals.Zentbl. Hyg. Umweltmed.191:423\u2013437.",
      "journal-title": "Zentbl. Hyg. Umweltmed."
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_16_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1128/iai.60.1.296-301.1992"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_17_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1016/0923-2508(91)90081-K"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_18_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1128/iai.50.2.449-452.1985"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_19_2",
      "unstructured": "Page\nF. C.\n (1988) A new key to freshwater and soil gymnamoebae. (Freshwater Biological Association Ambleside Cumbria United Kingdom)."
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_20_2",
      "unstructured": "Page\nF. C.\nSiemensa\nF. J.\n (1991) Nackte Rhizopoda und Heliozoa. (Gustav Fischer Verlag Stuttgart Germany)."
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_21_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1128/aem.57.1.163-167.1991"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_22_2",
      "first-page": "678",
      "article-title": "Current views on the relationship between amoebae, legionellae and man",
      "volume": "22",
      "author": "Rowbotham T. J.",
      "year": "1986",
      "unstructured": "Rowbotham T. J. (1986) Current views on the relationship between amoebae, legionellae and man.Isr. J. Med. Sci.22:678\u2013689.",
      "journal-title": "Isr. J. Med. Sci."
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_23_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1128/aem.58.6.2001-2004.1992"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_24_2",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1128/aem.57.7.1950-1955.1991"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_3_1_25_2",
      "unstructured": "Wright\nP.\n (1989) Acanthamoeba keratitis.Abstracts of the International Conference on Biology and Pathogenicity of Free-Living Amoebae."
    }
  ],
  "container-title": "Applied and Environmental Microbiology",
  "original-title": [],
  "language": "en",
  "link": [
    {
      "URL": "https://journals.asm.org/doi/pdf/10.1128/AEM.64.5.1822-1824.1998",
      "content-type": "application/pdf",
      "content-version": "vor",
      "intended-application": "text-mining"
    },
    {
      "URL": "https://journals.asm.org/doi/pdf/10.1128/AEM.64.5.1822-1824.1998",
      "content-type": "unspecified",
      "content-version": "vor",
      "intended-application": "similarity-checking"
    }
  ],
  "deposited": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2022,
        2,
        23
      ]
    ],
    "date-time": "2022-02-23T01:40:12Z",
    "timestamp": 1645580412000
  },
  "score": 1,
  "resource": {
    "primary": {
      "URL": "https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/AEM.64.5.1822-1824.1998"
    }
  },
  "subtitle": [],
  "short-title": [],
  "issued": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        1998,
        5
      ]
    ]
  },
  "references-count": 24,
  "journal-issue": {
    "issue": "5",
    "published-print": {
      "date-parts": [
        [
          1998,
          5
        ]
      ]
    }
  },
  "alternative-id": [
    "10.1128/AEM.64.5.1822-1824.1998"
  ],
  "URL": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.64.5.1822-1824.1998",
  "relation": {},
  "ISSN": [
    "0099-2240",
    "1098-5336"
  ],
  "subject": [],
  "container-title-short": "Appl Environ Microbiol",
  "published": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        1998,
        5
      ]
    ]
  },
  "assertion": [
    {
      "value": "1997-09-11",
      "order": 0,
      "name": "received",
      "label": "Received",
      "group": {
        "name": "publication_history",
        "label": "Publication History"
      }
    },
    {
      "value": "1998-02-16",
      "order": 1,
      "name": "accepted",
      "label": "Accepted",
      "group": {
        "name": "publication_history",
        "label": "Publication History"
      }
    },
    {
      "value": "1998-05-01",
      "order": 2,
      "name": "published",
      "label": "Published",
      "group": {
        "name": "publication_history",
        "label": "Publication History"
      }
    }
  ]
}