Potential Transmission of Acanthamoeba spp. from Contact Lens Solution and Tap Water in Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acanthamoeba spp. can cause corneal infection or keratitis that can be transmitted through contamination of contact lenses and water. AIM: The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors, transmission potential of Acanthamoeba spp. from the contact lenses cleaning solutions including the household water sources to the contact lens wearers. METHODS: The study was conducted between January 2019 and May 2019. An examination of Acanthamoeba was carried out by collecting contact lenses from 53 graduate students in a college in Jakarta. Their cleaning solutions of contact lenses and household water were also obtained. Each sample was separately examined for Acanthamoeba spp. in the Parasitology Laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, on page – salt agar culture. RESULTS: The findings show 2 and 3 contact lens samples positive for Acanthamoeba spp. and other free-living ameba (FLA), respectively. In addition, from the cleaning solution and tap water samples revealed, there are 5 (9.4%) and 34 (64.1%) cultures positive for Acanthamoeba spp. and other FLA, respectively. CONCLUSION: A positive sample of Acanthamoeba spp. originating from the same source of the contact lens and tap water, indicating an association of Acanthamoeba spp. from contact lenses and tap water with the cleaning solutions of the contact lenses. Thus, there is might be a risk of transmission of Acanthamoeba sp. from household water to the cleaning solutions of contact lenses.