Genotoxic effect of mercury and zinc on Acanthamoeba sp. (HKL isolate) and Acanthamoeba sp. (Setiu wetland isolate) : a laboratory study

Abstract

Heavy metals are stable in the environment and cannot be degraded or destroyed. Therefore, they tend to build up in the atmosphere, soils, sediments and water. Human activities have altered the natural (biochemical and geochemical) cycles and levels of some heavy metals. Excessive levels of metals in air, aquatic and terrestrial contributed pollution and pose risk to human and other living things including Acanthamoeba. Acanthamoeba is a free living amoeba that potentially becomes pathogenic. They are widely distributed in the environment and not dependent upon a host for transmission and spread. The previous study showed that heavy metals like cadmium, lead, mercury and zinc inhibit the growth of Acanthamoeba spp.