Digital PCR detection of microsporidia in household pipe water of patients with microsporidial keratitis
Abstract This is a prospective non-comparative experimental study aimed to investigate the presence of microsporidia in household pipe water of microsporidial keratitis (MK) patients and to describe the patients’ characteristics and behavioral risk factors. This study was conducted at Walailak Unive...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84033-8 |
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| author | Wararee Sriyuttagrai Auemphon Mordmaung Tachpon Techarang Jakkrit Juhong Dominik H. Kowanz Lunla Udomwech |
| author_facet | Wararee Sriyuttagrai Auemphon Mordmaung Tachpon Techarang Jakkrit Juhong Dominik H. Kowanz Lunla Udomwech |
| author_sort | Wararee Sriyuttagrai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This is a prospective non-comparative experimental study aimed to investigate the presence of microsporidia in household pipe water of microsporidial keratitis (MK) patients and to describe the patients’ characteristics and behavioral risk factors. This study was conducted at Walailak University Hospital, Thailand, from July 2022 to February 2024. Patients diagnosed with MK were surveyed using a questionnaire to assess personal behaviors and source of household water. Water from faucets of MK patients’ houses were collected for laboratory analysis with digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) to detect microsporidia in water samples. The study involved 54 MK patients, with 23 households contributing water samples. Utilizing dPCR analysis, we found that all water samples were contaminated with microsporidia. Level of contamination differed depending on the water source, with households that use untreated water in their plumbing system having significantly higher copies of pathogenic microsporidial DNA. Contrary to traditionally perceived risk from soil contact into eyes, our study identifies household water as an unforeseen potential source of MK. This emphasizes the critical importance of water quality management in preventing the infection. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-be367462eae44a138a5eba523ce609eb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-be367462eae44a138a5eba523ce609eb2025-01-05T12:17:33ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111010.1038/s41598-024-84033-8Digital PCR detection of microsporidia in household pipe water of patients with microsporidial keratitisWararee Sriyuttagrai0Auemphon Mordmaung1Tachpon Techarang2Jakkrit Juhong3Dominik H. Kowanz4Lunla Udomwech5Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Walailak UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Walailak UniversityDepartment of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol UniversityDepartment of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Walailak UniversitySchool of Medicine, University of CologneDepartment of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Walailak UniversityAbstract This is a prospective non-comparative experimental study aimed to investigate the presence of microsporidia in household pipe water of microsporidial keratitis (MK) patients and to describe the patients’ characteristics and behavioral risk factors. This study was conducted at Walailak University Hospital, Thailand, from July 2022 to February 2024. Patients diagnosed with MK were surveyed using a questionnaire to assess personal behaviors and source of household water. Water from faucets of MK patients’ houses were collected for laboratory analysis with digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) to detect microsporidia in water samples. The study involved 54 MK patients, with 23 households contributing water samples. Utilizing dPCR analysis, we found that all water samples were contaminated with microsporidia. Level of contamination differed depending on the water source, with households that use untreated water in their plumbing system having significantly higher copies of pathogenic microsporidial DNA. Contrary to traditionally perceived risk from soil contact into eyes, our study identifies household water as an unforeseen potential source of MK. This emphasizes the critical importance of water quality management in preventing the infection.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84033-8Microsporidial keratitisOcular infectionWaterborne transmissionHousehold water contamination |
| spellingShingle | Wararee Sriyuttagrai Auemphon Mordmaung Tachpon Techarang Jakkrit Juhong Dominik H. Kowanz Lunla Udomwech Digital PCR detection of microsporidia in household pipe water of patients with microsporidial keratitis Scientific Reports Microsporidial keratitis Ocular infection Waterborne transmission Household water contamination |
| title | Digital PCR detection of microsporidia in household pipe water of patients with microsporidial keratitis |
| title_full | Digital PCR detection of microsporidia in household pipe water of patients with microsporidial keratitis |
| title_fullStr | Digital PCR detection of microsporidia in household pipe water of patients with microsporidial keratitis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Digital PCR detection of microsporidia in household pipe water of patients with microsporidial keratitis |
| title_short | Digital PCR detection of microsporidia in household pipe water of patients with microsporidial keratitis |
| title_sort | digital pcr detection of microsporidia in household pipe water of patients with microsporidial keratitis |
| topic | Microsporidial keratitis Ocular infection Waterborne transmission Household water contamination |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84033-8 |
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