Zoonotic infections with dermatophyte fungi

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Mignon ◽  
M. Monod
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Specific Treatment ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Diagnostic Procedures ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Microsporum Canis ◽  
Fungal Culture ◽  
Clinical Appearance ◽  
Zoonotic Infections ◽  
Arthroderma Benhamiae

Dermatophytes are highly specialized pathogenic fungi which are the most common agents of superficial mycoses. These fungi grow exclusively in the stratum corneum, nails or hair utilising them as sole nitrogen and carbon sources. Dermatophyte species are recognized and classified as antropophilic, zoophilic, or geophilic, depending on their major reservoir in nature (humans, animals, and soil, respectively). Zoophilic dermatophytes may result in zoonoses when humans are exposed to these organisms and dermatophytosis is considered to be one of the most common zoonotic diseases. The majority of zoonotic dermatophytoses are caused by four species: Microsporum canis (usually derived from pet animals, particularly cats and dogs), Trichophyton verrucosum (usually derived from cattle), Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii (usually derived from cats and dogs) and Arthroderma benhamiae (usually derived from guinea-pigs). Infection results most often from direct contact with an infected animal, but may be also acquired indirectly through contact with a contaminated environment. While clinical disease is rarely serious, the lesions can result in disfigurement and pain. Diagnosis is based on history, clinical appearance and diagnostic procedures, e.g. direct microscopic examination of scales, hair or nail and fungal culture. Specific treatment is generally required to resolve lesions, and this may be prolonged depending on the fungal species and the host status. Identifying animals as the source of infection for people can help in the prevention of recurrence or new infections, especially in children, by adequately treating affected pets and their environments. Immunoprophylaxis is an attractive means of controlling infection in animals, and the development and widespread use of efficacious T. verrucosum vaccines in certain countries has already proved valuable in the management of cattle ringworm.

scholarly journals The Role of Fungi in the Cocoa Production Chain and the Challenge of Climate Change

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 202
Author(s):  
Johannes Delgado-Ospina ◽  
Junior Bernardo Molina-Hernández ◽  
Clemencia Chaves-López ◽  
Gianfranco Romanazzi ◽  
Antonello Paparella
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Cocoa Production

Background: The role of fungi in cocoa crops is mainly associated with plant diseases and contamination of harvest with unwanted metabolites such as mycotoxins that can reach the final consumer. However, in recent years there has been interest in discovering other existing interactions in the environment that may be beneficial, such as antagonism, commensalism, and the production of specific enzymes, among others. Scope and approach: This review summarizes the different fungi species involved in cocoa production and the cocoa supply chain. In particular, it examines the presence of fungal species during cultivation, harvest, fermentation, drying, and storage, emphasizing the factors that possibly influence their prevalence in the different stages of production and the health risks associated with the production of mycotoxins in the light of recent literature. Key findings and conclusion: Fungi associated with the cocoa production chain have many different roles. They have evolved in a varied range of ecosystems in close association with plants and various habitats, affecting nearly all the cocoa chain steps. Reports of the isolation of 60 genera of fungi were found, of which only 19 were involved in several stages. Although endophytic fungi can help control some diseases caused by pathogenic fungi, climate change, with increased rain and temperatures, together with intensified exchanges, can favour most of these fungal infections, and the presence of highly aggressive new fungal genotypes increasing the concern of mycotoxin production. For this reason, mitigation strategies need to be determined to prevent the spread of disease-causing fungi and preserve beneficial ones.

scholarly journals Mitotic Recombination and Adaptive Genomic Changes in Human Pathogenic Fungi

Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asiya Gusa ◽  
Sue Jinks-Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Repetitive Sequences ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Genomic Changes ◽  
Break Site ◽  
Repair Mechanisms

Genome rearrangements and ploidy alterations are important for adaptive change in the pathogenic fungal species Candida and Cryptococcus, which propagate primarily through clonal, asexual reproduction. These changes can occur during mitotic growth and lead to enhanced virulence, drug resistance, and persistence in chronic infections. Examples of microevolution during the course of infection were described in both human infections and mouse models. Recent discoveries defining the role of sexual, parasexual, and unisexual cycles in the evolution of these pathogenic fungi further expanded our understanding of the diversity found in and between species. During mitotic growth, damage to DNA in the form of double-strand breaks (DSBs) is repaired, and genome integrity is restored by the homologous recombination and non-homologous end-joining pathways. In addition to faithful repair, these pathways can introduce minor sequence alterations at the break site or lead to more extensive genetic alterations that include loss of heterozygosity, inversions, duplications, deletions, and translocations. In particular, the prevalence of repetitive sequences in fungal genomes provides opportunities for structural rearrangements to be generated by non-allelic (ectopic) recombination. In this review, we describe DSB repair mechanisms and the types of resulting genome alterations that were documented in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The relevance of similar recombination events to stress- and drug-related adaptations and in generating species diversity are discussed for the human fungal pathogens Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans.

scholarly journals Double Gamers—Can Modified Natural Regulators of Higher Plants Act as Antagonists against Phytopathogens? The Case of Jasmonic Acid Derivatives

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (22) ◽  
pp. 8681
Author(s):  
Nicolò Orsoni ◽  
Francesca Degola ◽  
Luca Nerva ◽  
Franco Bisceglie ◽  
Giorgio Spadola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Jasmonic Acid ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Phytopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Phaeomoniella Chlamydospora ◽  
Horticultural Crops

As key players in biotic stress response of plants, jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivatives cover a specific and prominent role in pathogens-mediated signaling and hence are promising candidates for a sustainable management of phytopathogenic fungi. Recently, JA directed antimicrobial effects on plant pathogens has been suggested, supporting the theory of oxylipins as double gamers in plant-pathogen interaction. Based on these premises, six derivatives (dihydrojasmone and cis-jasmone, two thiosemicarbazonic derivatives and their corresponding complexes with copper) have been evaluated against 13 fungal species affecting various economically important herbaceous and woody crops, such as cereals, grapes and horticultural crops: Phaeoacremonium minimum, Neofusicoccum parvum, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Fomitiporia mediterranea, Fusarium poae, F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae,F. sporotrichioides, Aspergillus flavus, Rhizoctonia solani,Sclerotinia spp. and Verticillium dahliae. The biological activity of these compounds was assessed in terms of growth inhibition and, for the two mycotoxigenic species A. flavus and F. sporotrichioides, also in terms of toxin containment. As expected, the inhibitory effect of molecules greatly varied amongst both genera and species; cis-jasmone thiosemicarbazone in particular has shown the wider range of effectiveness. However, our results show that thiosemicarbazones derivatives are more effective than the parent ketones in limiting fungal growth and mycotoxins production, supporting possible applications for the control of pathogenic fungi.

Mycotic infections in animals in India: An update

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Harish Chander Gugnani
Keyword(s):  
Literature Search ◽  
West Bengal ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Microsporum Canis ◽  
Geophilic Dermatophyte ◽  
Trichophyton Simii ◽  
Zoophilic Dermatophytes ◽  
Mycotic Infections ◽  
Demographic Features

This review traces the early records of mycotic infections in India, and presents an update of animal mycoses reported from several parts of India. The types of mycoses covered are the dermatophytosis (ringworm) in domestic animals due to well-known species of zoophilic dermatophytes, viz. Trichophyton simii, T. mentagrophytes, T. verrucosum, Microsporum canis and M. nanum, and the geophilic dermatophyte, M. gypseum, Aspergillus spp, Cryptococcus species and other yeast like fungi, histoplasma and blastomyces. The brief clinical and demographic features of infections in different animals are described. A particularly noteworthy finding in literature search is the report of clinical infections in one dog and two cows by an anthropophilic dermatophyte, T. rubrum from Belgachia, Kolkata, West Bengal in 1954. Veterinary scientists are urged to investigate the possible occurrence of infections in animals due to other pathogenic fungi including the dimorphic ones like Histoplasma and Blastomyces.

scholarly journals New Bis-Alkenoic Acid Derivatives from a Marine-Derived Fungus Fusarium solani H915

Marine Drugs ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shun-Zhi Liu ◽  
Xia Yan ◽  
Xi-Xiang Tang ◽  
Jin-Guo Lin ◽  
Ying-Kun Qiu
Keyword(s):  
Fusarium Solani ◽  
Zebrafish Embryo ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Ionization Mass ◽  
Alkenoic Acid ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Significant Toxicity ◽  
New Compounds ◽  
Acid Esters

Fusarium solani H915 is a fungus derived from mangrove sediments. From its ethyl acetate extract, a new alkenoic acid, fusaridioic acid A (1), three new bis-alkenoic acid esters, namely, fusariumester A1 (2), A2 (3) and B (4), together with three known compounds (5–7), were isolated. The structures of the new compounds were comprehensively characterized by high resolution electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS), 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Additionally, the antifungal activities against tea pathogenic fungi Pestalotiopsis theae and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides were studied. The new compound, 4, containing a β-lactone ring, exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against P. theae, with an MIC of 50 μg/disc. Hymeglusin (6), a typical β-lactone antibiotic and a terpenoid alkaloid, equisetin (7), exhibited potent inhibitory activities against both fungal species. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their effects on zebrafish embryo development. Equisetin clearly imparted toxic effect on zebrafish even at low concentrations. However, none of the alkenoic acid derivatives exhibited significant toxicity to zebrafish eggs, embryos, or larvae. Thus, the β-lactone containing alkenoic acid derivatives from F. solani H915 are low in toxicity and are potent antifungal agents against tea pathogenic fungi.

Systemic Acremonium species infection in a dog

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (06) ◽  
pp. 424-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrin Geisweid ◽  
Katrin Hartmann ◽  
Johannes Hirschberger ◽  
Monir Majzoub ◽  
Bianka Schulz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lymph Node ◽  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Abdominal Ultrasound ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Urine Specific Gravity ◽  
Fungal Culture ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Neurological Signs

SummaryA 2-year-old female Magyar Viszla was referred with fever, lethargy, polyuria/polydipsia, and suspected systemic cryptococcosis. At presentation increased rectal temperature and enlarged lymph nodes were detected. Main laboratory abnormalities included lymphocytosis, eosinophilia, and mildly reduced urine specific gravity. Abdominal ultrasound was unremarkable. Lymph node cytology revealed mycotic infection. Acremonium species was isolated from urine as well as from a popliteal lymph node by fungal culture. Therapy with itraconazol (10 mg/kg p. o. q 12 h) was initiated based on susceptibility testing, but dosage had to be reduced by half due to adverse effects. Despite treatment, the dog developed progressive azotemia. Four months after initial presentation, the patient showed anorexia, lethargy, weight loss, diarrhea, vomitus, neurological signs, and severe azotemia and was euthanized. Acremonium species are emerging opportunistic mould fungi that can represent a potential threat for immunocompromised humans. In dogs, only two cases of systemic infection with this fungal species have been reported so far. This case highlights the fact that systemic fungal infections should be considered as a differential in cases of fever and lymphadenopathy.

Virulence and in vitro Characteristics of Pathogenic Fungi Isolated from Soil by Baiting with Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

2003 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 342-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianzhong Sun ◽  
James R. Fuxa ◽  
Gregg Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Coptotermes Formosanus ◽  
Survival Times ◽  
Fungal Virulence ◽  
Fungal Isolates ◽  
Sampling Locations ◽  
Lethal Doses

Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) was used as “bait” to isolate pathogenic fungi from soil. Ninety soil samples were collected from woodlands and pastures in the vicinities of Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lake Charles, LA, from which six Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin and nine Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin isolates were obtained. Numbers of fungal isolates from the three sampling locations did not differ, but more isolates were found in woodlands than in pastures. Median lethal doses (LD50s) of these fungal species to C. formosanus were interspersed, indicating that fungal isolates rather than species had the greatest effect on virulence. Among nine Louisiana and two USDA isolates of B. bassiana, LD50s ranged from 4.95 × 103 to 4.96 × 105 conidia/termite, a difference of 100×. LD50s of six Louisiana and four USDA isolates of M. anisopliae ranged from 7.89 × 103 to 1.22 × 105 conidia/termite. Survival time also was used to compare virulence; M. anisopliae infections caused significantly shorter host survival times than B. bassiana. In vitro growth characteristics were significantly correlated with virulence against termites, suggesting that the characteristics of a fungus growing on agar might contribute to estimating the fungal virulence in vivo.

scholarly journals Risk of Fungal Infection to Dental Patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaqueline Lopes Damasceno ◽  
Rafael Aparecido dos Santos ◽  
Amir Horiquini Barbosa ◽  
Luciana Assirati Casemiro ◽  
Regina Helena Pires ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dental Treatment ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Immunocompromised Patients ◽  
Dental Procedure ◽  
Average Amount ◽  
Dental Patients ◽  
Dental Clinics ◽  
Dental Equipment ◽  
The University

Fungi can cause various diseases, and some pathogenic fungi have been detected in the water of dental equipment. This environment offers suitable conditions for fungal biofilms to emerge, which can facilitate mycological contamination. This study verified whether the water employed in the dental units of two dental clinics at the University of Franca was contaminated with fungi. This study also evaluated the ability of the detected fungi to form biofilms. The high-revving engine contained the largest average amount of fungi, 14.93 ± 18.18 CFU/mL. The main fungal species verified in this equipment belonged to the generaAspergillusspp.,Fusariumspp.,Candidaspp., andRhodotorulaspp. Among the isolated filamentous fungi, only one fungus of the genusFusariumspp. did not form biofilms. As for yeasts, all theCandidaspp. isolates grew as biofilm, but none of theRhodotorulaspp. isolates demonstrated this ability. Given that professionals and patients are often exposed to water and aerosols generated by the dental procedure, the several fungal species detected herein represent a potential risk especially to immunocompromised patients undergoing dental treatment. Therefore, frequent microbiological monitoring of the water employed in dental equipment is crucial to reduce the presence of contaminants.

scholarly journals Cell-cell recognition of host surfaces by pathogens. The adsorption of maize (Zea mays) root mucilage by surfaces of pathogenic fungi

1986 ◽  
Vol 233 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Gould ◽  
D H Northcote
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Ionic Interactions ◽  
Cell Recognition ◽  
Vascular Wilt ◽  
Adsorption Capacities ◽  
Bivalent Cations ◽  
Root Mucilage ◽  
Fungal Adhesins

The adsorption of radioactive mucilage by pathogenic fungi was shown to be dependent upon time, the composition of mucilage, the type of fungal surface (conidia, hyphae, hyphal apices), fungal species, pH and bivalent cations. All fungal adhesins were inactivated by either proteinase or polysaccharase treatments. Adsorption was not inhibited by the numberous mono-, di- and oligo-saccharides that were tested individually, but it was inhibited absolutely by several polysaccharides. This suggested that adsorption of mucilage by pathogens involved conformational and ionic interactions between plant and fungal polymers but not fungal lectins bound to sugar residues of mucilage. Several fractionation schemes showed that pathogens bound only the most acidic of the variety of polymers that comprise mucilage. There was not any absolute distinction between ability to bind radioactive mucilage and type of pathogen or non-pathogen. However, there were notable differences in characteristics of adsorption between two types of pathogen. Differences were revealed by comparison of the adsorption capacities of conidia and germinant conidia and chromatography of radioactive mucilage on germinant conidia. An ectotrophic root-infecting fungus (a highly specialized pathogen) bound a greater proportion of mucilage than did a vascular-wilt fungus (of catholic host and tissue range) with more than one class of site for adsorption. In contrast with the vascular-wilt fungus, sites for adsorption on the specialized pathogen were present solely on surfaces formed by germination.

scholarly journals Multicenter Clinical Validation of a Cartridge-Based Real-Time PCR System for Detection of Coccidioides spp. in Lower Respiratory Specimens

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Saubolle ◽  
Bette R. Wojack ◽  
Anne M. Wertheimer ◽  
Atehkeng Z. Fuayagem ◽  
Stephen Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Clinical Test ◽  
Target Sequence ◽  
Fungal Culture ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bronchial Wash

ABSTRACT Available methods for the diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis have significant shortcomings relative to accuracy and timeliness. We retrospectively and prospectively evaluated the diagnostic performance and reproducibility of a new cartridge-based real-time PCR assay for Coccidioides spp. directly in lower respiratory secretions and compared them to today's “gold standard,” fungal culture. The GeneSTAT Coccidioides assay uses a 106-bp target sequence repeated multiple times (∼60×) per genome, thus lowering the limit of detection (LOD) for extracted DNA to 10 genome equivalents/ml. A total of 332 prospective and retrospective individual patient specimens were tested. The retrospective samples consisted of 100 bronchoalveolar lavage or bronchial wash (BAL/BW) (51 positive and 49 negative by culture) specimens that had been collected previously and stored at −70°C. These samples were tested by the GeneSTAT Coccidioides assay across three clinical test sites. The sensitivity was 100%, and the specificity ranged between 93.8% and 100%. There was minimal variance in the percent agreement across the three sites, 95.6% to 100%. Additionally, a total of 232 fresh (prospective) deidentified BAL/BW specimens were tested across the three clinical sites, which included a number of specimens from Southern California to provide a diversity of isolates. Specimens were tested by fungal culture, with any isolates of Coccidioides, except for one, being confirmed by molecular means (AccuProbe). The sensitivity of the GeneSTAT Coccidioides assay across the three sites was 100% (4/4) for positive fresh specimens, and the overall specificity of the assay was 99.6% (227/228), ranging from 98.1% to 100%. In testing for cross-reactivity, the assay was 100% specific when screened against 47 different bacterial, viral, and fungal species.

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