Effects of Fusaric Acid to Inhibit Encystment and Excystment of Acanthamoeba spp.

Abstract

This research examined effects of fusaric acid on encystment and excystment of 4 Acanthamoeba isolates including AS and AR isolated from the keratitis patients and S3 and S5 isolated from soil samples. AS, AR and S3 were classified as the genotype T4 whereas S5 was T5. Trophozoites were treated with fusaric acid at concentrations 0.5×IC50. The results showed that fusaric acid partially interfered with AS encystment but it completely inhibited the encystment of the remaining isolates. Cysts were treated with fusaric acid at concentrations 4× and 8×IC50. Fusaric acid potentially inhibited the excystment of T4 in concentration- and time-dependent manners. On the other hand, T5 was more resistant to fusaric acid since the inhibitory effect was observed after treatment for 48 hours and did not depend on concentration. Therefore, combination of fusaric acid with other anti-Acanthamoeba agents may improve Acanthamoeba control.

Keywords

• acanthamoeba
• fusaric acid
• encystment
• excystment