Sporothrix schenckii isolated fromdomestic cats with and without sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

A total of 148 cats with a clinical and mycologic diagnosis of sporotrichosis and 84 apparently healthy cats with domiciliary contact with the affected animals were studied. Sporothrix schenckii was isolated from 148 (n = 148; 100%) clinical samples of cutaneous lesion (biopsy, swab or aspiration of purulent secretion), 47(n = 71; 66.2%) nasal cavities, 33 (n = 79; 41.8%) oral cavities, and 15 (n = 38; 39.5%) nails of cats with sporotrichosis. Histopathological examination revealed yeast-like structures in 50 (n = 70; 71.4%) of the biopsies studied. S. schenckii was isolated from the blood culture of one cat (n = 5, 20%) with the disseminated cutaneous form of the disease. On another occasion, the fungus was isolated from the testis of one (n = 7; 14.3%) of the animals submitted to sterilization. In the group of cats with domiciliary contacts, 3(n = 84; 3.57%) oral swabs showed positive cultures. Isolation of S. schenckii from different clinical specimens during both the clinical and preclinical phase reinforces the zoonotic potential of feline sporotrichosis. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Melanins Protect Sporothrix brasiliensis and Sporothrix schenckii from the Antifungal Effects of Terbinafine

Terbinafine is a recommended therapeutic alternative for patients with sporotrichosis who cannot use itraconazole due to drug interactions or side effects. Melanins are involved in resistance to antifungal drugs and Sporothrix species produce three different types of melanin. Therefore, in this study we evaluated whether Sporothrix melanins impact the efficacy of antifungal drugs. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFC) of two Sporothrix brasiliensis and four Sporothrix schenckii strains grown in the presence of the melanin precursors L-DOPA and L-tyrosine were similar to the MIC determined by the CLSI standard protocol for S. schenckii susceptibility to amphotericin B, ketoconazole, itraconazole or terbinafine. When MICs were determined in the presence of inhibitors to three pathways of melanin synthesis, we observed, in four strains, an increase in terbinafine susceptibility in the presence of tricyclazole, a DHN-melanin inhibitor. In addition, one S. schenckii strain grown in the presence of L-DOPA had a higher MFC value when compared to the control. Growth curves in presence of 2×MIC concentrations of terbinafine showed that pyomelanin and, to a lesser extent, eumelanin were able to protect the fungi against the fungicidal effect of this antifungal drug. Our results suggest that melanin protects the major pathogenic species of the Sporothrix complex from the effects of terbinafine and that the development of new antifungal drugs targeting melanin synthesis may improve sporotrichosis therapies.     

Sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil: Sporothrix brasiliensis Is Associated with Atypical Clinical Presentations

Background

There have been several recent changes in the taxonomy of Sporothrix schenckii as well as new observations regarding the clinical aspects of sporotrichosis. In this study, we determined the identification of the Sporothrix species associated with both classic and unusual clinical aspects of sporotrichosis observed in the endemic area of sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Methodology/Principal Findings

To verify whether S. brasiliensis is associated with clinical manifestations of sporotrichosis, a cross-sectional study was performed in which Sporothrix isolates from 50 patients with different clinical manifestations were analyzed and their isolates were studied by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Data from these patients revealed a distinct clinical picture and therapeutic response in infections caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis (n = 45) compared to patients with S. schenckii sensu stricto (n = 5). S. brasiliensis was associated with disseminated cutaneous infection without underlying disease, hypersensitivity reactions, and mucosal infection, whereas patients with S. schenckii presented with less severe and more often localized disease, similar to the majority of previously described sporotrichosis cases. Interestingly, S. brasiliensis-infected patients overall required shorter durations of itraconazole (median 16 weeks) compared to the individuals with S. schenckii (median 24 weeks).

Conclusions/Significance

These findings suggest that Sporothrix species are linked to different clinical manifestations of sporotrichosis and that S. brasiliensis is effectively treated with oral itraconazole.     

Nested clade and phylogeographic analyses of the Chagas disease vector Triatoma brasiliensis in Northeast Brazil

Triatoma brasiliensis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) is the most important Chagas disease vector in the semiarid areas of Northeast Brazil. We analyzed mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence variation among 136 individuals representing 16 populations from across the species' distribution. Neighbor-joining and parsimony tree-building methods were used in conjunction with nested clade analysis to describe the systematics and phylogeography of this species. Our results indicate that T. brasiliensis is composed of four genetically distinct chromatic forms (referred to as brasiliensis, macromelasoma, juazeiro, and melanica) that present inter-population divergence values (0.027-0.119, corrected K2-p) and a pattern of haplotype geographic distribution compatible with the existence of a species complex. As a consequence, such forms can be treated as isolated targets in vector control programs. We were unable to infer what is shaping the population structure of the brasiliensis form as we obtained mutually exclusive causes of structure, namely a barrier to gene flow caused by past population fragmentation, and isolation by distance between populations (which would permit gene flow). We found indication of mitochondrial DNA introgression occurring among forms in putative hybrid zones.     

Clinical,Epidemiological, and Epizootic Features of Sporothrix brasiliensis in Espírito Santo,Brazil

EcoHealth - We verified the clinical–epidemiological, microbiological, and molecular aspects of feline sporotrichosis in Espírito Santo, Brazil, as well as demonstrated the degree of...     

Length to weight ratio of four fish species in estuary areas in the Northeast region of Brazil

The length to weight ratio (LWR) was used to estimate populations of four fish species sampled on the Amazon coast of the state of Maranhão, Brazil. The fishes were sampled in 2018 and 2019 by artisanal coastal fishing, using gillnets (0.20–0.60 mm). The parameters a and b of the equation W_T = a L_T^b were estimated. The obtained LWRs were W_T = 0.06LT^2.93, (r²) = .989 for Oligoplites saliens; W_T = 0.061L_T^2.57, (r²) = .982 for Peprilus crenulatus; W_T = 0.014L_T^2.80, (r²) = .985 for Bagre bagre; and W_T = 0.035L_T^3.21, (r²) = .981 for Nebris microps.     

Phylogenetic Analysis Reveals a High Prevalence of Sporothrix brasiliensis in Feline Sporotrichosis Outbreaks

Sporothrix schenckii, previously assumed to be the sole agent of human and animal sporotrichosis, is in fact a species complex. Recently recognized taxa include S. brasiliensis, S. globosa, S. mexicana, and S. luriei, in addition to S. schenckii sensu stricto. Over the last decades, large epidemics of sporotrichosis occurred in Brazil due to zoonotic transmission, and cats were pointed out as key susceptible hosts. In order to understand the eco-epidemiology of feline sporotrichosis and its role in human sporotrichosis a survey was conducted among symptomatic cats. Prevalence and phylogenetic relationships among feline Sporothrix species were investigated by reconstructing their phylogenetic origin using the calmodulin (CAL) and the translation elongation factor-1 alpha (EF1α) loci in strains originated from Rio de Janeiro (RJ, n = 15), Rio Grande do Sul (RS, n = 10), Paraná (PR, n = 4), São Paulo (SP, n = 3) and Minas Gerais (MG, n = 1). Our results showed that S. brasiliensis is highly prevalent among cats (96.9%) with sporotrichosis, while S. schenckii was identified only once. The genotype of Sporothrix from cats was found identical to S. brasiliensis from human sources confirming that the disease is transmitted by cats. Sporothrix brasiliensis presented low genetic diversity compared to its sister taxon S. schenckii. No evidence of recombination in S. brasiliensis was found by split decomposition or PHI-test analysis, suggesting that S. brasiliensis is a clonal species. Strains recovered in states SP, MG and PR share the genotype of the RJ outbreak, different from the RS clone. The occurrence of separate genotypes among strains indicated that the Brazilian S. brasiliensis epidemic has at least two distinct sources. We suggest that cats represent a major host and the main source of cat and human S. brasiliensis infections in Brazil.     

伊曲康唑联合特比萘芬治疗孢子丝菌病疗效及其对病原真菌体外抗菌活性研究

目的 初步探讨伊曲康唑和特比萘芬联合治疗孢子丝菌病的疗效,评价两药体外联合对申克孢子丝菌菌丝相和酵母相的抗菌活性.方法 口服伊曲康唑200mg/d和特比萘芬250mg/d治疗孢子丝菌病;体外联合药敏试验采用棋盘微量稀释法,计算分数抑菌浓度(FIC)指数判定两药相互作用具有协同、拮抗或无关作用.结果 伊曲康唑和特比萘芬联...     

Phenotypic and molecular identification of Sporothrix isolates of clinical origin in Northeast China

Sporotrichosis is the most common deep mycosis in Northeast China which is an area of high epidemicity due to contact with reeds or cornstalks. In this study, we have characterized a total of 74 clinical isolates from fixed cutaneous, lymphocutaneous and disseminated clinical forms and from Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces, respectively. All isolates (previously as Sporothrix schenckii) were identified as Sporothrix globosa according to their phenotypic characteristics and calmodulin gene sequences analysis. They were subdivided into two sub-clades (S. globosa I and S. globosa II). Most of our isolates (71/74) presented restricted growth at 37 °C, which differed from a previous report. Up to now, S. globosa is the only pathogenic species in Northeast China, no matter what kind of clinical form and which region it is isolated from. Most of our clinical isolates (68/74) were clustered with three Chinese environmental isolates reported in the literature. The new findings of S. globosa isolates on division and thermotolerance at 37 °C described in this study will help us gain a better understanding of S. globosa.     

Fisheries in Semi-Arid Northeast Brazil with Special Reference to the Role of Tilapias

The reservoir fisheries in the semi-arid Northeast Brazil have been studied based on the data collected by the Department of Action Against Droughts and placed against the background of what is known of similar fisheries in the tropics elsewhere. Of about 60,000 reservoirs in the region, DNOCS controls about 100 reservoirs since 1970. Physical characteristics are provided together with total areas of the reservoirs. Unfortunately very little basic limnological data are available. In all 42 species of fish and crustaceans were introduced into these reservoirs of which only fourteen fish species and one shrimp were successful in establishing self-propagating populations, others being stocked on a regular basis. The recent stocking of Colossoma macropomum and Cyprinus carpio are however unsuccessful in reservoirs. The fish yield of DNOCS controlled reservoirs for 1950–1990 was 112 kg.ha⁻¹ (Davies, 1972; Gurgel and Oliveira, 1987). It amounts now to about 20,000 tons annually taking into account incomplete and scaled down reporting of catches. This indicates a total fish catch from 60,000 reservoirs in the Northeast of Brazil of very substantial size. The CPUE and catches of all species and that of Tilapia rendalli and Oreochromis niloticus are given together with a discussion of the fisheries and recommendations for management. The total CPUE varied from 18–1,100 kg.ha⁻¹. However, most fishermen are only part-timers. It appears likely that very substantial yields of fish are being harvested in Northeast Brazil but are under-reported. Management strategies now in operation in reservoir fisheries are still very pragmatic. With the accumulation of data and generalizations, more viable strategies could be devised.     

Ecology of Sporothrix schenckii and of Ceratocystis stenoceras in Corsica and Alsace, French provinces free of sporotrichosis]

The study was conducted in 2 French Provinces free of sporotrichosis. Of 40 samples (soil, plant fragments, . . .) taken from Corsica, 59 isolations were obtained. All of these contained S. schenckii type of growth. Of 30 retained for further study, 14 were later identified as Ceratocystis stenoceras. All 14 needed pyrimidine as a growth factor. They developed well at 37 degrees and gave a yeast-like growth in shaken medium at 35 degrees and 25 degrees. One of the strains was pathogenic to mice. From 422 small mammals trapped in Alsace 37 isolations were made which morphologically were identified as S. schenckii. From these 31 were identified as C. stenoceras. Six isolations were considered as S. schenckii. The presence of nature of C. stenoceras and S. scheckii is discussed. Both fungi were isolated from various materials collected in tropical areas where sporotrichosis is endemic but also in such temperate areas as Corsica and Alsace where the mycosis is non-existent.     

The Untold Sacrifice: The Monotony and Incompleteness of Self-Sacrifice in Northeast Brazil

There is no such thing as an accidental sacrifice. Sacrifice is always pre-meditated, and if not entirely goal-oriented, at the very least inherently meaningful as a process in itself. This paper is about how we might begin to understand sacrifices that do not conform to these rules. It concerns the question: does sacrifice exist outside of its (often) dramatic, self-conscious elaboration? Within the Brazilian Catholic tradition everyday life – ideally characterised by monotonous, undramatic, acts of self-giving – is ‘true sacrifice’. For ordinary Catholics, the challenge is not how to self-sacrifice, but how to make one's mundane life of self-sacrifice visible whilst keeping one's gift of suffering ‘free’. In this paper I describe, ethnographically, the work entailed as one of ‘revelation’ and use the problems thrown up to reflect upon both the limits and advantages of Western philosophical versus anthropological understandings of Christian sacrificial practices to date.     

Serologic Detection of Coccidioidomycosis Antibodies in Northeast Brazil

Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic infection caused by Coccidioides spp. The disease is endemic in Brazil but its incidence is underreported as it is not a notifiable disease. This article presents the results of a serologic survey carried out with 229 volunteers in northeast Brazil by the immunodiffusion (ID) test with commercial Coccidioides spp. antigens. The commercial ID test detected 15 individuals without clinical diagnosis of the disease and two individuals in treatment for coccidioidomycosis. Regarding the epidemiological data, most of the positive individuals were male, between 18 and 65 years of age and were engaged in armadillo hunting. Three women who had never participated in armadillo hunts also displayed positive results for coccidioidal antibodies. Besides armadillo hunts, exposure to environmental dust in endemic areas may account for the serologic response detected in the study. The data from this study suggest the importance of performing epidemiological surveys for coccidioidomycosis in order to understand the prevalence of this disease in Brazil.     

Factors affecting the use of medicinal plants by migrants from rural areas of Brazilian Northeast after moving to a metropolitan region in Southeast of Brazil

Background

Ethnopharmacological studies about migrants reveal a dynamic process of knowledge and use of medicinal plants. In this study, we sought to elucidate quantitative and qualitatively the main factors influencing the use of medicinal plants by migrants from rural areas to an urban region in Brazil with traces of remnant natural vegetation.

Methods

Seven Northeastern individuals who migrated to the Southeastern Region of Brazil (Bororé Peninsula, in the city of São Paulo) were selected to participate in semi-structured interviews regarding the use of medicinal plants throughout their lives, and indicated an inhabitant in their hometown that would be able to accompany the field collections in each area. Socioeconomic, educational, family structure, and use of Western medicine data were provided during interviews with the individuals from their hometowns. Plant samples cited by the interviewees were collected both at the current place of residence and in their hometowns.

Results

The participants cited 131 plants and 315 recipes, being the main indications related to the gastrointestinal system, respiratory problems, and pain and inflammatory processes. We observed that most plant uses were maintained after migration. Higher percentages of maintenances and incorporations in plant uses occurred to exotic species, while replacements happen mainly to native plants. The introduction of new species into the migrants’ therapeutics occurred mainly by observations of organoleptic similarities between the substituted plant and the incorporated species, conversations with neighbors, and contact with the television and print media. In addition, the public health system allowed the interviewees access to prophylactic drugs, leading to the discontinuation of certain recipes used in endemic diseases.

Conclusion

Migrants were exposed to information about new plants and their uses, new diseases, and socioeconomic and cultural differences that impacted their use of medicinal plants. Although migration to a more developed city facilitated access to public health and education, on the other hand, it made access to fresh medicinal plants difficult, causing some medicinal plants to be replaced or ceased to be used.

     

Erythrocytary Zinc and the Infant Growth Profile in Northeast Brazil

This study evaluated nutritional status linked to zinc levels in 239 randomly selected children at crèches in Teresina, Brazil, aged 3 to 6. Blood samples were collected after fasting of 10 h. Erythrocytary zinc levels were determined through flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Zinc deficiency was determined as below 40 µg Zn/g Hb. Infant linear growth was evaluated measuring weight and height, and nutritional status by height/age, weight/height, and weight/age indices, expressed as Z scores, in line with the National Center for Health Statistics. The mean zinc concentration was 35.50?±?10.95 µg Zn/g Hb. Zinc distribution in the 10, 50, 75, and 90 percentiles was 24.73 µg Zn/g Hb, 35.45 µg Zn/g Hb, 40.73 µg Zn/g Hb and 52.77 µg Zn/g Hb, respectively. Based on this distribution, normal values were found only from the 75th percentile and above. Since the cutoff point adopted was 40 µg Zn/g Hb, the prevalence of zinc deficiency was 74.3%. As for growth profile, 8.4% were chronically malnourished, although the statistical association between linear impairment and nutritional status regarding zinc was insignificant. The study revealed that an important segment of the infant population was mineral deficient; however, the degree of deficiency did not influence growth profiles.