Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 10 4 2015 12 14 523 529 EN Maryam NIYYATI Dep. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran-Iran Zohreh LASJERDI Dep. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran-Iran Saeed ZAREIN-DOLAB English Language Dep., School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran-Iran Mahdieh NAZAR Dep. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran-Iran Hamed BEHNIAFAR Dep. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran-Iran Mohammad Reza MAHMOUDI Dept. of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran Ehsan NAZEMALHOSSEINI MOJARAD Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2015 12 30 2015 12 30 Background: Naegleria spp. is a free-living amoeba of which some species includ­ing N. fowleri and N. australeinsis are highly pathogenic in human and ani­mals. These widespread amoebae could be found in different environmental sources particularly in aquatic resources of tropical and subtropical regions. The most important source of infection is via recreational water contact. Due to the lack of thorough research regarding species of Naegleria spp. in aquatic sources, the present study was conducted. Methods: In the present study, 60 samples were collected from recreational wa­ter resources of Rasht city, Guilan province, north of Iran. After filtering and culturing the samples, plates were examined by microscopic method and accord­ing to the page criteria. DNA of vahlkampfiid-positive samples were then ex­tracted using phe­nol-chlorophorm method. Amoebae genus was identified by targeting the ITS-region and sequencing based-approaches. Results: Nine (15%) samples out of a 60 total samples were positive for Naegleria spp. of which seven belonged to potentially pathogenic N. australiensis. Two other strains were belonged to non-pathogenic N. pagei. Conclusion: The present research was the first report of occurrence of N. aus­traliensis and N. pagei in Rasht city, north Iran. This study reflects the occurrence of Naegleria spp. in water sources of Guilan Province, Iran. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/689 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/689/553