Contribution to the study of dermatomycosis in Catalonia

We report the results of a study which aim was the mycological identification of specimens coming from patients included in a clinical trial. A total of 445 specimens from patients with clinical diagnosis of dermatomicosis were processed during 8 months (138 pityriasis versicolor, 28 cutaneous candidosis and 279 dermatophytosis). A 48% of pityriasis versicolor cultures were positive for Malassezia furfur, 50% of candidosis cultures were positive for yeasts and 67% of dermatophytosis cultures were positive for dermatophytes. According to our results Candida albicans was the principal causative agent for cutaneous candidosis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum were the most frequent isolated species causing dermatophytosis.     

Experimental infection of goats and guinea pigs with Microsporum canis and trials on treatment with canesten cream and neguvon solution

Goats and guinea pigs were found to be quite susceptible to infection with the bovine strain of Microsporum canis. The severe and characteristic annular lesions seen in goats suggested the suitability of this species as a model for future research. The lesions in both goats and guinea pigs are described in details.Trials on treatment of the experimentally induced lesions with 1% canesten cream and 6% neguvon solution were attempted. The efficacy of the drugs used were assessed on the basis of clinical observation, Wood's lamp, direct microscopy, culture and histopathology. Canesten cream produced quick and remarkable results which advocates its use in a widescale in veterinary practice.     

Potential therapeutic effect of yeast killer toxin

Experimental infections were produced in guinea pigs, rabbits and dogs with lesions similar to those seen in human seborrheic dermatitis and otitis externa by cutaneous application of cultures of Malassezia furfur and M. pachydermatis. Infected animals were treated by topical application of a concentrated yeast killer toxin (Hansenula anomala UCSC 25F). Clinical recovery as well as negative mycological test cultures of infected animals proved to the clearly associated with the treatment by the killer toxin.     

Candidemia and cutaneous lesions in two patients without intravenous drug addiction.

We report here two cases of disseminated candidosis with typical folliculitis, cutaneous nodules and chorioretinitis in two patients with severe underlying conditions. Histological and microbiological studies showed Candida albicans in blood and cutaneous lesions. The outcome was favourable with azole systemic treatment.     

Cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused byPhialophora richardsiae and the effect of topical clotrimazole in its treatment

A 15 year-old girl and her 50-year-old mother from Jabalpur, India, were found to have phaeohyphomycotic skin lesions due toPhialophora richardsiae. Among the antimycotics testedin vitro, clotrimazole was found to be most active. Topical application of clotrimazole cream cured the lesions completely.     

Chemotherapeutic Evaluation of Clotrimazole [Bay b 5097, 1 (o-Chloro-α-α-Diphenylbenzyl) Imidazole]

Clotrimazole has a broad spectrum of activity against yeast and filamentous fungi in vitro and also in vivo when given orally or parenterally to experimentally infected mice and when administered orally or topically to infected guinea pigs. In vitro a distinct inoculum effect has been observed with a number of strains of Candida and Torulopsis; minimal inhibitory concentrations have tended to increase with increased incubation time. With prolonged incubation times, resistance can be developed to clotrimazole in vitro, but this resistance is readily reversible upon passage in drug-free broth. The degree of in vivo activity of clotrimazole against Candida depends on the severity of infection used. Orally it appears to be more effective when administered by gavage than when given mixed in the diet. Pretreatment with the agent may decrease its efficacy because of drug inactivation. Against dermatophytes, clotrimazole has a degree of activity similar to griseofulvin when given orally, but it is less active than tolnaftate topically in cutaneous infection of Trichophyton mentagrophytes in guinea pigs. In vitro, but not in vivo, some gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria are inhibited by low concentrations of clotrimazole.     

Efficacy of 6-amino-2-n-pentylthiobenzothiazole onTrichophyton in vitro and in vivo

In vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of synthetically parepared 6-animo-2-n-pentylthiobenzothiazole (APB) againstTrichophyton strains were studied. APB inhibited the growth of 3Trichophyton strains at 65 µg/ml. 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole was not effective at 125 µg/ml and ketoconazole inhibited the growth at 20–30 µg/ml. Treatment of experimental dermatophytosis in guinea pigs using 2.5% APB cream was studied in comparison to Canesten cream (1% clotrimazole). Dermatophytosis was considerably reduced after both APB and Canesten therapies.     

Achievement of complete mycological cure by topical antifungal agent NND-502 in guinea pig model of tinea pedis

We examined the therapeutic effect of a 1% cream preparation of NND-502, a novel topical antifungal agent, in a guinea pig tinea pedis model produced by infecting the plantar skin of guinea pigs with Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Animals developing tinea pedis were divided into two groups: an untreated control group and a treated group. In the latter group, after confirming infection had been established, the infected animals were topically treated with the NND-502 cream once daily for one week. The animals were reared in a clean environment free from exposure to exogenous dermatophytes. At one week (5 weeks post-infection), 6 weeks (10 weeks post-infection) and 16 weeks (20 weeks post-infection) after completion of the treatment, plantar skin samples were taken from a certain number of both groups of animals. The results demonstrated that all of the animals in the untreated control group and none of those in the treated group were culture-positive in this animal model of tinea pedis. The topical treatment with NND-502 achieved a mycological cure. Thus NND-502 can be considered a promising candidate as a new anti-dermatophytic agent for topical use.     

Comparison of terbinafine and clotrimazole in treating tinea pedis.

OBJECTIVE--To compare the efficacy and safety of terbinafine 1% cream and clotrimazole 1% cream in the treatment of tinea pedis. DESIGN--Multicentre, double blind parallel group study. SETTING--32 general practices and one hospital. PATIENTS--256 patients with mycologically confirmed tinea pedis. Of the 211 patients evaluable, 107 were randomised to terbinafine (75 male, 32 female; mean (range) age 40 (12-81) years) and 104 to clotrimazole (79 male, 25 female; mean (range) age 36 (12-71) years). INTERVENTIONS--Terbinafine 1% cream applied twice daily for one week and inert cream applied twice daily for the next three weeks. Clotrimazole 1% cream applied twice daily for four weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Mycological cure (negative results on microscopy and culture) and effective treatment (mycological cure plus no or minimal signs and symptoms) measured at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. RESULTS--At week four rates of mycological cure were 93.5% for terbinafine and 73.1% for clotrimazole (p = 0.0001); and at week six 97.2% for terbinafine and 83.7% for clotrimazole (p = 0.001). Rates of effective treatment at week 4 were 89.7% for terbinafine and 58.7% for clotrimazole (p = 0.0001); and 89.7% for terbinafine and 73.1% for clotrimazole (p = 0.002) at week 6. CONCLUSION--These results indicate that a one week course of terbinafine 1% cream is more effective in the treatment of tinea pedis than a four week course of clotrimazole 1% cream, both in terms of mycological cure and effective treatment.     

Histopathology of experimental systemic candidosis in guinea-pigs

Unpretreated Albino guinea-pigs were infected intravenously with Candida albicans. Cutaneous candidosis with (pseudo-) hyphal outgrowth in the hair shafts and in the keratinized layers of the epidermis developed as a consequence of systemic dissemination. The spread of the infection was followed by cultures and by gross- and micropathological study of various organs of different animals during a follow-up period of 35 days. The possible relationship of organ invasion by C. albicans and skin candidosis is discussed.     

Ixodes dammini: Induced skin lesions in guinea pigs and rabbits compared to erythema chronicum migrans in patients with lyme arthritis

Erythematous skin lesions occurred in rabbits 2 days after being fed upon by larvae or nymphs of the tick, Ixodes dammini. Similar lesions occurred in guinea pigs 7 days after a primary infestation with either larvae or nymphs. Host resistance to secondary feeding by larvae was demonstrated in guinea pigs and rabbits. Host resistance to secondary feeding by nymphs was seen in guinea pigs, but not in rabbits. Guinea pigs developed resistance to nymphs after being previously fed upon twice by larvae. All skin lesions in resistant guinea pigs contained large accumulations of basophils (49–76% of cells) with smaller (20–33%), but significant, numbers of eosinophils. These responses were characteristic of strong cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity reactions. Primary and secondary lesions in rabbits fed upon by larvae contained mostly mononuclear cells (46–52%) and moderate numbers (16–30%) of basophils and eosinophils. Primary and secondary lesions in rabbits fed upon by nymphs had few (3–11%) basophils and eosinophils and were dominated by mononuclear cells (73–86%). Thus, acquired resistance in guinea pigs and rabbits was associated with cutaneous basophil and eosinophil responses and the lack of resistance of rabbits to nymphs was associated with erythematous lesions dominated by mononuclear cells. The mononuclear nature of rabbit lesions induced by nymphal feeding was similar to that seen in erythema chronicum migrans in Lyme arthritis patients who are thought to have been fed upon by I. dammini nymphs. This study confirms the cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity characteristics of lesions in guinea pigs resistant to ticks and demonstrates a relationship between the mononuclear cell response of rabbits to nymphal I. dammini and the cellular response seen in patients with erythema chronicum migrans and Lyme arthritis.     

Melanocytic carcinogenesis in albino guinea pigs

We describe an experimental model for the induction of cutaneous melanomas in albino guinea pigs by means of repeated topical application of 7,12-dimethyl-benzanthracene over 13 consecutive months. At the end of the experiment 87.5% of the animals presented multiple lesions of a melanocytic nature. The most frequent and the earliest detected was melanocytic hyperplasia, followed by dysplasia. These lesions occurred in 75% of animals and were observed from the 4th month onward. Nevus-type lesions appeared from the 12th month and affected 70% of animals, whilst melanomas occurred in 65%. Metastases were observed in 45% of animals, in lungs, lymph nodes, kidney, and adrenal gland.     

新型酮康唑喷膜对豚鼠体癣模型疗效的观察

目的 观察新型酮康唑喷膜对豚鼠体癣模型的疗效。方法 选择健康豚鼠20只,用穿刺法制备豚鼠体癣模型。将体癣模型随机分A组（新型酮康唑喷膜治疗组）,B组（喷膜基质治疗组）,C组（复方酮康唑霜治疗组）和D组（对照组）。根据豚鼠皮疹和真菌学检查进行疗效评估。结果 A组和C组的豚鼠治疗后局部红斑和水肿明显减轻,与治疗前比较有显著意义（P〈0．05）;停药2周时,A组和C组真菌镜检、培养阴性率均为100％,明显高于B和D组（P〈0．05）。结论 新型酮康唑喷膜对豚鼠体癣模型有良好的抗真菌活性。     

Experimental candidosis and recovery of Candida albicans from the oral cavity of ovariectomized rats

The aim of this study was to analyze the development of candidosis and the recovery of C. albicans from the oral cavity of ovariectomized and sham-ovariectomized rats. One hundred and twenty-four rats originally negative for Candida spp. in the oral cavity were divided into two groups: ovariectomized and sham-ovariectomized. Fifty-eight ovariectomized and the same quantity of sham-ovariectomized rats were inoculated with C. albicans for the study of candidosis development and recovery of yeast. Four animals from each group were not inoculated with yeast suspension and were submitted to tongue dorsum morphologic analysis by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The development of candidosis in the tongue dorsum was observed by optical and scanning electron microscopy in the periods of 6 hr, 24 hr, 7 days and 15 days after the last inoculation. Recovery of C. albicans was performed by oral samples plating on Sabouraud agar after 1, 2, 5 and 7 days and progressively at each 15-day interval until negative cultures for yeasts were obtained. The results were analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Student's t tests. The tongue dorsum of sham-ovariectomized and ovariectomized rats, not infected by Candida, presented normal aspect. Among the infected rats, the ovariectomized group showed less occurrence of candidosis lesions and lower recovery of C. albicans from the oral cavity in relation to the sham-ovariectomized group. It could be concluded that candidosis was less frequent from the oral cavities of ovariectomized rats in relation to sham-ovariectomized.     

Saprophytic occurrence of Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum gypseum in the coats of healthy laboratory animals

A group of 199 healthy laboratory animals, comprising 63 guinea pigs; 58 white mice. 47 rats and 31 rabbits, was sampled for the presence of pathogenic dermatophytes. T. mentagrophytes, var. granulare, was isolated in 10% (5-guinea pigs, 6 mice, 6 rats and 2 rabbits) and M. gypseum was found in 7 animals (3 guinea pigs, 3 mice and one rat). No ringworm lesions were observed in the respective animals. This is the first report on such findings in Israel.     

Passive transfer of tumor immunity with spleen cells from guinea pigs cured of hepatocarcinoma by nonspecific immunotherapy

Summary The purpose of this study was to evaluate cell-mediated tumor immunity in strain-2 guinea pigs cured of line-10 hepatocarcinoma by oil-in-water emulsions containing phenol-water extracts from either BCG or the Re mutant of Salmonella typhimurium (Re ET) admixed with mycobacteria glycolipid (P3). Treatment with these emulsions produced complete regression of established tumor nodules and prevented the growth of lymph node metastases in 25 of the 28 animals inoculated intradermally (ID) with 10⁶ line-10 cells and given intralesional immunotherapy 6 days later. No tumor regression was observed in animals given phenol-water extracts alone. Spleen cells, taken from guinea pigs cured of line-10 by BCG extract + P3 or Re ET + P3, were tested for their influence on tumor growth by means of an in vivo adoptive neutralization test (Winn test). Cell transfer was accomplished by the subcutanous injection of various concentrations of spleen cells admixed with 10⁵ viable line-10 cells. The results showed that as few as 10⁷ immune spleen cells completely inhibited the growth of 10⁵ tumor cells in 46–54% of the animals. The best tumor growth inhibition (77–85%) was observed in animals given 5 × 10⁷ immune cells admixed with 10⁵ tumor cells. The onset of transferrable tumor immunity was earlier in animals treated with the BCG extract + P3 than in those given the Re ET + P3. However, the duration of detectable tumor immunity was longer in the latter group. In contrast, no inhibition of tumor growth was observed in animals given spleen cells from normal or tumor-bearing guinea pigs. Moreover, spleen cells obtained from guinea pigs immunized with BCG extract + P3 or Re ET + P3 emulsions only and admixed with line-10 cells failed to transfer tumor immunity to normal animals. Thus, results from this study clearly demonstrated that cell-mediated tumor immunity was elicited in animals cured of line-10 tumor with combinations of P3 and phenol-water extracts of either BCG or Re mutant of S. typhimurium and that sensitized spleen cells effectively transferred systemic tumor immunity to normal recipients.     

New data on the factors of ovarian competence in the immature and mature guinea pigs

The effects of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) on ovulation and luteinization in premature and in mature female guinea pigs in different states of the estrous cycle were compared histologically. FSH and LH were administered in a horse pituitary extract (gonadormone, Byla) injected sc, and results were assessed from hematoxylin and eosin-stained serial sections of the ovaries, removed 24 hours later. In premature guinea pigs (mean weight 233 gm) the threshold dose of gonadormone was .1-1 U for luteinization, and results from different seasons did not differ, so experiments were pooled. At .5 U, 17 of 32 (53%) animals had luteinized follicles, compared to 44 of 56 (79%) given 1 U (p.02). Of these luteinized follicles 2 of 17 (12%) animals had ovulated, or .25 (coefficient of ovulation) of luteinized follicles at .1 U, while 10 of 44 (23%) animals ovulated, or .61 of luteinized follicles ovulated at 1 U. 35 or 70 mg atropine S04 per 100 gm body weight did not affect luteinization induced by 1 U gonadormone. In mature guinea pigs (mean weight 415 gm), 2 of 5 U gonadormone at the beginning of vaginal closure caused luteinization, usually with eggs enclosed (pseudopregnancy), or atresia, in more than 1/2 of the animals. On Day 8 after vaginal closure, 7 of 9 (78%) animals had corpora lutea with enclosed eggs, after receiving 1 U gonadormone. On Day 12, 18 of 51 (35%) animals had corpora lutea with enclosed eggs, 12 of 51 (24%) had postovulatory corpora lutea, and 9 of 51 (18%) had both. Atropine S04 again had no effect on luteinization. If the young guinea pigs given .1 U and the mature guinea pigs given 1 U were compared, the frequency of luteinization was 53% and 76%, respectively (p.05); the frequency of ovulation among animals with luteinization was 12% and 23%, respectively (p.01); and the coefficient of ovulation among luteinized follicles was .25 and .78, respectively (p.05). Therefore, degrees of competence can be assigned since mature follicles at the end of the cycle were more responsive than follicles from premature guinea pigs, whose follicles in turn were more responsive than early follicles of mature guinea pigs.     

Effect of immunosuppression on experimental Argentine hemorrhagic fever in guinea pigs.

Immunosuppression with cyclosporin A or cyclophosphamide had no apparent effect on the disease course of guinea pigs infected with a virulent strain of Junin virus. Immunosuppression of guinea pigs infected with an attenuated strain of Junin virus led to fulminating Argentine hemorrhagic fever. All immunosuppressed infected animals died. Virus distribution patterns in target organs, as determined by plaque assay and fluorescent antibody procedures, were similar to those from non-immunosuppressed animals infected with a virulent strain. Histopathological lesions in immunosuppressed guinea pigs infected with an attenuated strain of virus were similar to those in non-immunosuppressed guinea pigs infected with a virulent strain. Histological changes attributable to the immunosuppressive drug(s) were regularly observed. Immunosuppressed animals infected with attenuated Junin virus and non-immunosuppressed animals infected with virulent virus failed to develop antibody or responded at a minimal level. Virus-specific cytotoxic spleen cell activity, previously shown to be antibody dependent, failed to develop in the same animals. The presence of a competent immune response, probably serum antibody, determined whether Argentine hemorrhagic fever infection of the guinea pig was lethal or whether recovery ensued; no evidence for harmful effects of the immune response was obtained.     

Leishmania braziliensis spp. in the nasal mucosa of guinea pigs inoculated in the tarsi.

Two lots of 20 young male guinea pigs were inoculated subcutaneously in the tarsi with 10(4) amastigotes of Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis or L. b. guyanensis to study the susceptibility of this Neotropical hystricomorph rodent the autochthonous parasites. Almost 50% of the animals showed lesions in the inoculation site and had parasitizations that were infective to hamsters, as shown by inoculating homogenates of the dermal lesion, of the spleen, of the liver, and of the nasal mucosa into hamsters at 20, 40, 60, and 120 days after inoculation of the guinea pig. Smears of the above organs showed the presence of amastigotes. Parasites inoculated into the tarsi were detected early in the skin, spleen, and liver of the guinea pig host. Blood cultures made by cardiopuncture on sacrifice of the guinea pigs were uniformly negative. The nasal mucosa of nearly all animals positive in the skin or viscera was invaded early by the parasites, although with greater frequency between 60 and 120 days post-inoculation. The use of this model for the study of mucocutaneous parasitism by L. braziliensis is discussed, together with the phenomena of parasitism at a distance from the inoculation site, the temperature of the body regions affected, and the possible genetic influence on susceptibility of the guinea pig to L. braziliensis.     

婴儿头皮念珠菌病1例

报告菌痂型婴儿头皮念珠菌病1例。患儿头皮出现脓痂16个月。病原菌经真菌直接镜检、真菌培养、芽管试验和科玛嘉念珠菌显色培养基鉴定为白念珠菌。经溶痂和外涂1％咪康唑软膏治疗1周后痊愈。