Nasal Carriage of Free-Living Amoebae

Abstract

South Australia has had a relatively high frequency of human disease caused by free-living amoebae. The prevalence of these organisms in the nasal mucosa of 262 asymptomatic adult volunteers was determined. Acanthamoeba was isolated from six (2.3 per cent) subjects. This carriage rate is not high in comparison to other studies. Keywords: Free-living amoebae; Acanthamoeba ; Nasal mucosa; Keratitis; Normal flora.