Genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibility of Candida albicans isolates from Iranian HIV-infected patients with oral candidiasis

Objective The objectives of this study were to investigate the antifungal susceptibility and genetic diversity of Candida albicans isolated from HIV+ patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis. A total of 50 C. albicans isolates were cultured on Sabouraud glucose agar containing chloramophenicol. The antifungal susceptibility of the isolates against fluconazole, clotrimazole, nystatin, amphotericin B, ketoconazole and flucytosine was assessed using disc diffusion method. The genetic diversity of C. albicans isolates was determined using random amplified polymorphic DNA marker. Results The inhibition zones ranged from 4 ± 1.8 to 40 ± 3.8 mm for fluconazole, 7 ± 1.0 to 37 ± 1.8 mm for ketoconazole, 14 ± 0.8 to24 ± 0.8 mm for amphotericin B, 25 ± 0.0 to 33 ± 0.0 mm for nystatin and 7 ± 4.2 to 40 ± 0.0 mm for clotrimazole. At 90% similarity, three distinct groups were observed. The smallest cluster composed of 3 isolates, whereas the largest one composed of 17 isolates. 32% (16/50), 28% (14/50) and 14% (7/50) were resistant to fluconazole, ketoconazole and clotrimazole, respectively.

Genetic Diversity and Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida Albicans Strains Isolated from Lranian HIV+ Patients With Oral Candidiasis

Objective: The objectives of this study were to investigate the antifungal susceptibility and genetic diversity of oral Candida albicans strains isolated from HIV+ patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis. A total of 50 C. albicans isolates were cultured on Sabouraud glucose agar containing chloramohenicol. The antifungal susceptibility of C. albicans against fluconazole, clotrimazole, nystatin, amphotericin B, ketoconazole and flucytosine was assessed using disc diffusion method. The genetic diversity of different C. albicans strains was determined using random amplified polymorphic DNA technique. Results: The inhibition zones ranged from 4±1.8 to 40±3.8 mm for fluconazole, 7±1.0 to 37±1.8 mm for ketoconazole, 14±0.8 to24±0.8 mm for amphotericin B, 25±0.0 to 33±0.0 mm for nystatin and 7±4.2 to 40±0.0 mm for clotrimazole. At 90% similarity, three distinct groups were observed. The smallest cluster composed of 3 of 50 C. albicans isolates, whereas the largest cluster composed of 17 of 50 isolates. Of 50 C. albicans isolates, 32%, 28% and 14% were resistant to fluconazole, ketoconazole and clotrimazole, respectively. There were no significant differences among antifungal susceptibility of different C. albicans strains from three genotype clusters.

Survey on the Presence of Malassezia spp. in Healthy Rabbit Ear Canals

Malassezia spp. have rarely been reported in rodents and lagomorphs. In 2011, Malassezia cuniculi was described in two rabbits. Further microscopic studies showed M. cuniculi-like yeasts in more than 50% of samples from rabbits’ ear canals, but no isolation was made. The present study details the presence of Malassezia spp. and tries to typify it from ear canals of healthy rabbits. Seventy-eight half-breed rabbits from rural farms and 98 companion dwarf rabbits from northern Italy were considered. A first attempt to screen ear swabs was performed by microscopic and cultural examination on Sabouraud Glucose Agar (SGA), modified Dixon Agar (mDA) and Leeming and Notman Agar (LNA). Additionally, ear swabs from eight further microscopically positive rabbits for M. cuniculi-like cells, were used for both isolation on LNA medium and nine of its variants and for DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing. The microscopic observation of the swabs of the screened 168 rabbits highlighted the presence of yeasts in one or both of the external ear canals of 98 rabbits (58.3%). Rabbits used for meat production were more frequently diagnosed positive than pet rabbits (P = 0.001), and young ones were more often positive compared to rabbits older than 3 months (P = 0.027). No yeast growth was observed in culture. From the eight selected rabbits, Malassezia isolation failed both on LNA and on the modified mediums. Sequences of ~300 bp fragments of 18s rDNA, obtained by PCR from swabs, showed 99.9% identity with Malassezia phylotype 131 described from human ear canals. As Malassezia-like yeasts have been observed in more than half of the examined population, its colonization of ear meatus can be considered as physiological in rabbits. The results outline how much remains to be discovered on Malassezia as a component of the skin mycobiota of rabbits and that the use of the culture examination alone is not the best choice to detect Malassezia-like yeasts in rabbits.

Majocchi's granuloma of the vulva: A case report

Introduction/Aim: Majocchi's granuloma is an infrequent deep-seated fungal infection where pathogen invades hair follicles, entering the dermal and subcutaneous tissue, thus forming granulomatous dermal and/or hypodermal changes. There are two clinical types: the first one is common in healthy individuals characterized by superficial perifollicular papular infection, and the second is followed by the deep subcutaneous nodules usually reported among immunocompromised hosts. This infection is usually caused by Trichophyton rubrum. The aim of this paper is to show the rare localization of this disease in the area of the vulva. Case report: We present a 20-year-old immunocompetent woman with multiple papules, nodules, and pustules on the hairy part of the vulva. Potassium hydroxide preparations of skin scrapings were negative and culture performed on Sabouraud glucose agar revealed Trichophyton rubrum. The patient was treated with the oral systemic antifungal therapy for four weeks and all lesions resolved. Conclusion: Majocchi's granuloma should not be overlooked in patients with papular and nodular lesions in the vulvar region.

UJI AKTIVITAS ANTI JAMUR EKSTRAK INFUSA DAUN SIRSAK (Annona muricata L.) TERHADAP Candida albicans

Kandidiasis banyak menyerang masyarakat di daerah tropis seperti Indonesia, hal ini disebabkan Indonesia memiliki curah hujan yang tinggi dan kelembapan yang tinggi sehingga pertumbuhan jamur menjadi sangat baik. Kandidiasis adalah suatu penyakit jamur, yang bersifat akut atau sub akut disebabkan oleh Candida albicans. Candida albicans merupakan salah satu jamur patogen penyebab keputihan. Sejak jaman dahulu masyarakat Indonesia telah mengenal dan menggunakan tanaman berkhasiat obat sebagai penanggulangan masalah kesehatan. Sirsak (Annona muricata L.) merupakan salah satu tanaman obat tradisional yang mengandung senyawa kimia yaitu tanin, fitosterol, kalsium oksalat dan alkaloid murisine yang dapat digunakan sebagai anti jamur. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui aktivitas infusa daun sirsak dalam menghambat atau membunuh pertumbuhan jamur Candida albicans. Penelitian dilakukan di Laboratorium Mikologi Poltekkes Kemenkes Banjarmasin. Penelitian bersifat experimental dengan desain post-test only. Ekstraksi daun sirsak menggunakan metode infusa. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode dilusi. Aktivitas anti jamur diamati dengan melihat kejernihan dan kekeruhan pada 50%; 25%; 12,5%; 6,25%; 3,13%; 1,56%; 0,79%; 0,40%; 0,20% dan 0,10%. Medium yang digunakan adalah medium SGA (Sabouraud Glucose Agar) yang ditambahkan Antibiotik Khloramfenikol 75 ppm dan medium SGC (Sabouraud Glucose Cair). Infusa daun sirsak mempunyai aktivitas menghambat dan membunuh pertumbuhan jamur Candida albicans. Infusa daun sirsak menunjukkan KHM dan KBM pada konsentrasi 12,5%.

Fungi isolated from maize (Zea mays L.) grain in Lithuania

The aim of this work was to investigate contamination levels of maize grain by fungi propagules and composition of fungi species. The objects of investigation were maize grain taken in Lithuania, 5 different fields of private farms in the Vilkaviškis District, in 2016 and 2017. Grain samples were taken directly from the field before harvesting at the end of October (Phenological growth stage BBCH 97). Moisture of the samples was measured by a mobile hygrometer Wile 55. Quantitative grain contamination by fungal propagules (fungal propagules = cfu = colony forming unit) was determined by a dilution method. Serial decimal dilutions up to 10−3 were made and 0.1 ml aliquots were inoculated in triplicate onto the Sabouraud glucose agar medium with chloramfenicol (0.5 g l–1). Results of this study showed that the moisture content in the grain varied from 21.5 to 32.3%. Due to late ripening and unfavourable meteorological conditions the contamination of grain by fungi propagules ranged from 9.5 to 33.2 cfu g–3. Fungi were identified according to morphological and microscopic characteristics. A total of 8 different fungal genera (Absidia spp., Aspergillus spp. Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp., Epicoccum spp., Fusarium spp., Mortierella spp., Penicillium spp.) and 14 species were identified in total. Fungi of Alternaria and Fusarium genera were prevailing.

UJI AKTIVITAS ANTI JAMUR EKSTRAK INFUSA DAUN SIRSAK (Annona muricata L.) TERHADAP Candida albicans

Kandidiasis adalah suatu penyakit jamur, yang bersifat akut atau sub akut disebabkan oleh Candida albicans dapat menyerang daerah kulit, mulut, selaput mukosa vagina, kuku, bronki atau paru-paru. Penyakit ini ditemukan di seluruh dunia dan dapat menyerang semua umur baik laki-laki maupun perempuan. Pengetahuan tentang obat merupakan warisan budaya bangsa salah satunya jenis tanaman berkhasiat obat daun sirsak terhadap Candida albicans. Penelitan dengan metode true eksperimental, Populasi daun sirsak (Annona Muricata L.), diperoleh dari daerah Pasir Panjang, Pangkalan Bun, Kal-Teng. Jamur uji yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah jamur Candida albicans. Medium yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah medium SGA (Sabouraud Glucose Agar) + khloramfenikol 75 ppm dan medium SGC (Sabouraud Glucose Cair). Daun sirsak yang digunakan adalah daun yang berasal dari tanaman sirsak dewasa. Pengujian anti jamur dilakukan dengan metode dilusi atau seri pengenceran dengan interval pengenceran dua kali, menggunakan 12 tabung reaksi, tiap tabung dimasukkan sebanyak 0,5 ml SGC secara aseptis. Semua tabung diinkubasi selama 5-7 hari pada suhu kamar, kemudian diamati adanya pertumbuhan (kekeruhan) dengan cara membandingkan dengan kontrol negatif dan kontrol positif. Hasil Penelitian yaitu Infusa daun sirsak mempunyai aktivitas untuk menghambat dan membunuh pertumbuhan jamur Candida albicans yang menunjukkan KHM dan KBM pada konsentrasi 12,5%. Kata Kunci : Aktivitas, Infusa, Daun Sirsak, Candida albicans.

Ustilago trichophora (H.F. Link) F. Körnicke, a fungus newly found in Poland

<em>Ustilago trichophora</em>, a smut fungus found for the first time in Poland, is characterized and illustrated. <em>Ustilago trichophora</em> affected <em>Echinochloa crus-galli</em> growing in the Lower Silesia voivodeship. In laboratory investigations, the germinability of teliospores, the morphological properties of promycelium, sporidia and colonies produced on potato dextrose agar, Sabouraud-glucose agar, and in water were determined. Attempts to infect seeds and seedling of <em>E. crus-galli</em> in a greenhouse pot experiment failed.

Effect of culture media on the growth and morphology of Hungarian Macrophomina phaseolina isolates

Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goidanich can cause serious yield losses in several plant species. Investigations were made on the colony morphology of fifty Macrophomina phaseolina isolates from Hungary, one from Spain and two from Serbia on six different culture media to detect differences between the isolates. The fungus exhibited the most intensive growth on maize-flour agar, followed by the Sabouraud-glucose, maltextract, potato-dextrose, Czapek-Dox and watery agar media. Investigations on the macromorphology of the isolates revealed different extents of aerial mycelia formation and differences in the zonal structure of microsclerotial formation on the individual media. One isolate (Mp 38) turned the Sabouraud-glucose agar medium pale pink. Investigations on the micromorphology of the cultures showed that the isolates also varied with respect to microsclerotial characters (size, shape and production of microsclerotia). The microsclerotia of this fungal pathogen had the greatest diameter (averaging 135.31 μm) on Sabouraud-glucose agar medium. This study was the first in Hungary to prove that Macrophomina phaseolina could be grown on nutrient-deficient watery agar, suggesting that it can tolerate a wide range of ecological circumstances.