AMEBAS PATÓGENAS DE VIDA LIBRE DEL GÉNERO ACANTHAMOEBA EN AGUAS RECREATIVAS EN LA HUASTECA POTOSINA, MÉXICO

Resumen

Studies accomplished in freshwater demonstrate the importance of identify the presence of
protozoa like free living amoebae (FLA). In particular, the genera Acanthamoeba is associated with
severe infections in man, as the Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis (GAE). The most important
factor for the development of these organisms is the high temperature of the water body. The
region of the Huasteca Potosina in Mexico, with a tropical climate and great aquatic resorts, like
rivers, waterfalls and pools of thermal waters, that allows the development of amoebae. In this
study we evaluated the presence of amoebas in the most visited places on the Huasteca Potosina.
Samples of a liter were taken in nine sites during the rainy and dry season. 54 strains of amoebas
were identify, 46 belong to the genera Acanthamoeba, resulting 30 of them pathogenic in the
animal tests. The pathogenic isolated amoebas were present in the most attended resorts by the
people in the waterfalls or pools of the places sampling. Temperature turned out to be the most
important factor for the presence of amoebae.