The mycological and molecular study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hortaea werneckii</Emphasis> isolated from blood and splenic abscess

Hortaea werneckii is an environmental dematiaceous fungus found in the halophilic environment. It causes tinea nigra. We report the isolation of H. werneckii from blood and splenic abscess of two patients with acute myelomonocytic leukaemia. H. werneckii grew at room temperature but not at 37 °C, it was identified by biochemical tests, growth characteristics and the presence of conspicuous collarette intercalary on dividing yeast cells. The use of specific oligonucleotide primer Hor-F (5′-TGGACACCTTCA TAACTCTTG-3′) and Hor-R (5′-TCACAACGCTTAGAGACGG-3′) confirmed the two isolates were H. werneckii. The sequence for 281 nucleotide of HW299 and HW403 were 99% identical but differed only in one nucleotide. In vitro anti-fungal susceptibility testing showed that the isolates were resistant to amphotericin B and flucytosine.     

Population biology ofHortaea werneckii based on restriction patterns of mitochondrial DNA

Fifteen isolates ofHortaea werneckii, causative agent of tinea nigra in man, were examined with respect to restriction fragment length polymorphisms of mitochondrial DNA. Seven types of mtDNA, interpreted as populations, could be distinguished, with similarities between the restriction patterns ranging from 32 to 79%. Much of the variance originated from length mutations. Of the seven populations four represented isolates from man, two of which also comprised isolates from other sources. This makes adaptation ofH. werneckii towards association with man in its evolution unlikely; similarity in the chemical and/or physical characteristics of the different isolation sources, viz. salinity, seems more probable. mtDNA types were not correlated with geographic origin. Isolates with the same mtDNA type are widely geographically distributed.     

Tinea Nigra: Report of Twelve Cases in Venezuela

Tinea nigra is a superficial mycotic infection produced by Hortaea werneckii, formerly known as Phaeoannelomyces werneckii, formerly known as Exophiala werneckii, and Stenella araguata, the latter autochthonous in Venezuela, it was first described and named as Cladosporium castellanii in 1973. The present report describes 12 cases in the period of 1972–2002, diagnosed at the Medical Mycology Section at the Tropical Institute of the Universidad Central de Venezuela, in Caracas. This mycosis is more prevalent among young people, with fair skin, from 3 to 28 years of age, who visited beaches and in whom the lesions are more evident. Out of these 12 patients, 8 (66.66%) had Phaeoannelomyces werneckii as the causal agent and 2 (16.67%) Stenella araguata was isolated. Two patients had more than one macule, and curiously in these cases, each lesion was caused by a different species of the aforementioned fungus.     

Identification of Hortaea werneckii Isolated from Mangrove Plant Aegiceras comiculatum Based on Morphology and rDNA Sequences

Hortaea werneckii is a black yeast-like ascomycetous fungi associated with the human superficial infection tinea nigra, which commonly occurs in tropical and subtropical countries. Now, this fungus has been found in the halophilic environment all over the world and recognized as a new model organism in exploring the mechanisms of salt tolerance in eukaryotes. During a survey of endophytic fungi of mangrove forest at South China Sea, two isolates of H. werneckii were recovered from medicinal plant of Aegiceras comiculatum. The isolates were identified by morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses (e.g., ITS rDNA, LSU rDNA and translation elongation factor EF1α). Some physiological tests such as thermotolerance, acid tolerance (pH) and NaCl tolerance as well as pathogenicity test in vitro for the strains of Hortaea were performed. It is the first report that H. werneckii was isolated from medicinal plant of A. comiculatum in south sea of China as the endophytic fungi.     

Tiña negra. Primera observación en el Uruguay

The first case in Uruguay of tinea nigra is described in a 44-year-old male patient with a maculous pigmented lesion on the right foot. It represents the most meridional case of the disease yet recorded in South America. Exophiala werneckii was isolated in cultures (strain 1905 IHM).     

Eumycetoma caused by Curvularia lunata in a dog

Curvularia lunata was cultured from black granules found in granulomatous tumefactions excised from the subcutis of a three year old Medium Schnauzer dog. Draining sinuses were present in some of the tumefactions. Accordingly the diagnosis of eumycotic mycetoma was made. This diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination. During the four years following the first surgical intervention, several more similar tumefactions were excised on three different occasions. The dog died of chronic renal failure at the age of 8 years. There was no bone involvement or visceral diffusion of the fungus. The granules were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Immunoglobulins in the dog's serum, assessed by a qualitative test, proved to be equal to immunoglobulins in the serum of a control dog. Precipitating antibodies against C. lunata were not found. The dog was treated for 150 days with itraconazole. In spite of good initial results, recurrence of the fungal lesions were observed after the treatment's interruption. Further treatment with itraconazole for 45 days proved ineffective. No side effects of the drug were observed. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first case in which C. lunata is identified as the causative agent of an animal eumycetoma.     

Dermatophytosis among the students of the elementary schools in Taipei city

Summary A survey of dermatophytosis among the students of all elementary schools in Taipei City was performed from April to June, 1957. A total of 2687 students, 1419 boys and 1268 girls, were examined as a random sample.There were 85 cases of dermatophytosis (3.16%) including 80 cases of tinea capitis (2.98 %), two cases of tinea glabrosa (0.07 %), one case of tinea pedis (0.04 %) and two cases of favus (0.07 %). Seventy eight out of 80 cases of tinea capitis were male.Mycological study of 80 cases from these patients was performed and 49 strains of the causative organisms were obtained. Among 46 strains cultured from tinea capitis, there were 39 cases (84.8 %) ofT. ferrugineum, which is the commonest species in Formosa, 6 cases (13.0 %) ofT. violaceum and one case ofT. rubrum.Favus is an endemic dermatophytosis in middle and southern China but is rare in Taipei City.The relationship between the causative dermatophytes and the clinical findings of tinea capitis were described. Clinical symptom due toT. ferrugineum was different from that due to other organisms.     

Epidemiologic study of dermatophyte infections in Nigeria (clinical survey and laboratory investigations)

The commonest dermatophyte infection among the referred dermatology cases in Nigeria is tinea pedis, whereas among the surveyed population of school children, the commonest fungal infection was tinea capitis.It was found that the most ubiquitcus causative organism for tinea pedis was E. fluccosum, that for tinea capitis was M. audouinii, while that for tinea corporis was T. soudanese.The source of infection of tinea capitis among the school children was found to be most likely the local barber who serviced the schools in all the villages, and this might explain the high incidence rate of T. soudanese in tinea capitis. Tinea pedis infection is believed to be highly favoured by the wearing of shoes among the senior students. Animals were not a major source of transmission of dermatophytes in Nigeria.No new species of dermatophytes has been identified among the cultured organisms.     

Zygocotyle lunata: proteomic analysis of the adult stage

The somatic extract of Zygocotyle lunata (Trematoda: Paramphistomidae) adults collected from experimentally infected mice was investigated using a proteomic approach to separate and identify tryptic peptides from the somatic extract of Z. lunata adult worms. A shot-gun liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry procedure was used. We used the MASCOT search engine (Matrix-Science) and ProteinPilot software v2.0 (Applied Biosystems) for the database search. A total of 36 proteins were accurately identified from the worms. The largest protein family consisted of metabolic enzymes. Structural, motor and receptor binding proteins and proteins related to oxygen transport were identified in the somatic extract of Z. lunata. This is the first study that attempts to identify the proteome of Z. lunata. However, more work is needed to improve our knowledge of trematodiasis in general and more specifically to have a better understanding about host–parasite relationships in infections with paramphistomes.     

Tinea Infection with Scutula-like Lesions Caused by Microsporum Gypseum in a SLE Patient: Case Report and Literature Review

Scutula are characteristic lesions of tinea favosa or favus; the most frequently identified causative organism is Trichophyton schoenleinii. Although scutula-like lesions were described in Microsporum gypseum infection, their presence on glabrous skin in a patient with SLE has not been reported previously. We report a case of tinea infection with scutula-like lesions caused by Microsporum gypseum in a SLE patient, who was treated with topical terbinafine cream, and the lesions resolved completely. In addition, we reviewed the reported cases about this rare clinical manifestation caused by Microsporum gypseum in the medical literature.     

Prevalence of Dermatophytoses in the Zarqa District of Jordan

A total of 350 clinically suspected cases of dermatomycoses were examined for causative fungi during July 1997 to September 1998. Mycotic infection was demonstrable by microscopy and culture in 199 (56.8%) cases. The most common superficial mycotic infections were tinea pedis (35.2%) followed by tinea capitis (23.1%), tinea unguium (21.6%) and tinea corporis (10.6%). Most of the infected patients were 1–9, 20–29 and 30–39 years old. Men were mainly infected with tinea cruris and tinea pedis, while women were infected with tinea pedis, tinea unguium and tinea capitis. The frequencies of etiological agents isolated from patients were as follows: Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale (32.7%), T. rubrum (28.6%), Epidermophyton floccosum (20.1%), Microsporum canis (11.1%), T.schoenleinii (4%), T.verrucosum (2%), T.violaceum (1%), and M. gypseum (0.5%). The number of infections varied with the seasons. The highest number of cases of tinea pedis and tinea cruris occurred in the summer months, while tinea capitis, tinea corporis and tinea unguium occurred in the spring and winter months. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Trichophyton violaceum is the dominant cause of tinea capitis in children in Tripoli,Libya: Results of a two year survey

The causative agents of tinea capitis in Libyan nationals attending the out patient Dermatology Clinic of the Tripoli Medical Centre over the period December 1997 to December 1999 were investigated. Samples (hair and scalp scrapings) were taken from 940 patients who presented with suspected tinea capitis. The etiological agents were identified in 584 cases. Trichophyton violaceum was found to be the most prevalent organism isolated being responsible for 64.4% (376/584) of culture positive cases, followed by Microsporum canis at 24.7% (144/584) and T. mentagrophytes at 5.5% (32/584). The majority of infections (380/584) occurred in females and in children with ages less than 12 years (554/584). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Successful Terbinafine Treatment for Cutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis Caused by Trematosphaeria grisea in a Heart Transplanted Man: Case Report and Literature Review

Phaeohyphomycosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by dematiaceous fungi. It is characterized by the presence of pigmented septate mycelia within tissues. In the case of superficial infection, the lesion(s) chronically evolve(s) toward painless pseudo-tumor(s) of the soft parts. We report herein the original case of a heart transplanted man who exhibited phaeohyphomycosis of the left hand, with no mention of travels in endemic areas. Trematosphaeria grisea was identified as the causative agent, which is quite innovative since this species has been rather described in mycetoma. The antifungal treatment initially based on isavuconazole alone was not sufficient to cure the patient. In contrast, its association with local terbinafine ointment allowed total clinical improvement. This finding is unusual as diagnosis of phaeohyphomycosis caused by T. grisea is uncommon in nontropical countries, and as the outcome appeared successful by the means of add-on therapeutic strategy with terbinafine.

     

Pulmonary aspergillosis due toAspergillus terreus combined with staphylococcal pneumonia and hepatic candidiasis

A female patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) developed pulmonary aspergillosis with staphylococcal pneumonia and hepatic candidiasis.Aspergillus terreus, which is a rare causative organism of pulmonary aspergilosis, was identified from a pulmonary lesion by culture. The aleurioconidium production, a characeristic of the genusAspergillus sect.terrei, was demonstrated on short and irregular hyphal features in tissue sections. This report is the first of a combined case of pulmonary aspergillosis due toA. terreus with infections caused by other microorganisms.     

The incidence of skin manifestations by dermatophytes in patients with psoriasis

Thirty-four psoriatic patients (23 males, 11 females) were found to have skin manifestations of dermatophyte infection. Tinea pedis was observed in 20 cases, tinea cruris in 6 and tinea mannum in 2. T. rubrum was the causative agent in all of these with the exception of 2 cases caused by E. floccosum. Lesions of tinea corporis were found intermingled with psoriatic plaques in various areas of the body skin in 6 patients (4 males, 2 females); T. rubrum was isolated from 5 of these and M. canis from one. Twenty-one of these psoriatic patients also had lesions caused by C. albicans in the toe-webs and interdigital aspects of the fingers, the latter being associated with paronychia in 9 cases. These findings indicate that we should remain aware of the possibility of fungus manifestations in patients with psoriasis, which would not appear to be an exceptional occurrence.     

Ecology and molecular adaptations of the halophilic black yeast Hortaea werneckii

Molecular studies on halophilic adaptations have focused on prokaryotic microorganisms due to a lack of known appropriate eukaryotic halophilic microorganisms. However, the black yeast Hortaea werneckii has been identified as the dominant fungal species in hypersaline waters on three continents. It represents a new model organism for studying the mechanisms of salt tolerance in eukaryotes. Ultrastructural studies of the H. werneckii cell wall have shown that it synthesizes dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin under both saline and non-saline growth conditions. However, melanin granules in the cell walls are organized in a salt-dependent way, implying the potential osmoprotectant role of melanin. At the level of membrane structure, H. werneckii maintains a sterol-to-phospholipid ratio significantly lower than the salt-sensitive Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Accordingly, membranes of H. werneckii are more fluid over a wide range of NaCl concentrations, indicating high intrinsic salt stress tolerance. Even H. werneckii grown in high NaCl concentrations maintains very low intracellular amounts of potassium and sodium, demonstrating the sodium-excluder character of this organism. The salt-dependent expressions of two HwENA genes suggest roles for them in the adaptation to changing salt concentrations. The high similarity of these ENA ATPases to other fungal ENA ATPases involved in Na⁺/K⁺ transport indicates their potential importance in H. werneckii ion homeostasis. Glycerol is the main compatible solute which accumulates in the cytoplasm of H. werneckii at high salinity, although it seems that mycosporines may also act as supplementary compatible solutes. Salt dependent increase in glycerol synthesis is supported by the identification of two copies of a gene putatively coding for glycerol-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase. Expression of only one of these genes is salt dependent.     

A survey of the pathogenic fungi of mycotic infection of the scalp in U.A.R.

Summary 121 cases diagnosed clinically as tinea capitis were examined microscopically and culturally. In 80 cases the causative organism could be cultured.T. violaceum was the causative organism of the majority of the cases as it caused 47.5 % of the cases,T. schoenleinii 31.3 %,M. canis caused 26.1 %,T. tonsurans 1.3 %, whileM. audouinii caused none. In most of the cases ofT. violaceum infection, scaling and mild inflammation were the common clinical manifestation. The black dot or the bald patch appearance was rarely seen. Favus did not necessarily show the characteristic scutulae; in many cases ofT. schoenleinii infection, only few scales and mild inflammation were present.     

Griseofulvin in the treatment of dermatomycoses and onychomycoses produced by dermatophytes of the Trichophyton group

Summary Based on observations on the therapy of 128 patients affected with tinea unguium, tinea manus et pedis, tinea granulomatosa nodularis (Granuloma Majocchi), tinea cruris, tinea corporis, tinea barbae and tinea capitis due to infection with dermatophytes of theTrichophyton group, determinations were made for the absolute and relative indication of griseofulvin in the treatment of these mycoses. For each affection, comparisons were made between the therapeutic results obtained by combined therapy with oral griseofulvin (uniform daily dose 1 g for each case) and local therapy with 1 % water solution organic dyes, coal tar on the one hand, and mere local therapy as described above, on the other. For treatment, griseofulvin of different production was available: British Grisovin, Likuden and Likuden M from West-Germany, and Griseofulvin produced in the German Democratic Republic. No essential differences were found in the therapeutic effect of the individual preparations, the tolerance, however, was found to be best with Likuden. On the basis of comparisons made for the results of the individual methods of treatment, griseofulvin therapy was found to be an absolute indication of the mycotic diseases as follows: tinea capitis, tinea cruris follicularis trichophytica and tinea unguium. A relative indication was found to be tinea corporis, tinea barbae, tinea cruris, and tinea manus et pedis.All patients were subjected to microscopic and culture examination. The frequency of the individual dermatophytes was as follows:Trichophyton rubrum in 56 cases,Trichophyton verrucosum in 19 cases,Trichophyton mentagrophytes in 16 cases, andTrichophyton violaceum in 1 case. Thirty six cases showed negative cultures.In conclusion, the author recommends individual selection of patients for the griseofulvin therapy.     

First Case of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichophyton soudanense</Emphasis> Isolated in Tunisia

This is a first case of Trichophyton soudanense isolated from Ivoiran student in Tunisia. A 24-year-old man was addressed for extensive erythematous, scaling lesions. Examination disclosed tinea capitis, tinea corporis, tinea pedis, and onychomycosis of toenails and fingernails. Isolates were identified as Trichophyton soudanense on the basis of macroscopy and microscopy colony characteristics. The patient was treated with fluconazole, topical econazole, and ciclopiroxolamine varnish. Although T. soudanense was identified since the late 1950s outside the African continent especially in the North America, Brazil, Australia, and many European countries, this is the first case reported in Tunisia. Accessibility to our universities for African students makes possible the emergence of this dermatophyte.     

Aggressiveness analysis of foliar fungi to leaves of wheat and rice crops

Abstract

The investigations were based on two surveys of wheat and one survey of rice. Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata, Helminthosporium tetramera and Bipolaris sorokiniana were isolated and identified from foliage and soil of both wheat and rice crops and their aggressiveness was studied by aggressiveness analysis screened out into different aggressiveness classes. The aggressiveness of isolated fungi was studied on wheat varieties (Inqalab-91 and Chakwal-86) and rice varieties (Basmati-385 and IRRI-6) under controlled conditions. In the foliar aggressiveness test of A. alternata, the overall number of aggressive isolates was higher on wheat varieties than rice. Bipolaris sorokiniana isolates showed foliar blight symptoms on wheat but not on rice varieties. In C. lunata, the overall number of aggressive isolates was higher on wheat. In the foliar aggressiveness test of H. tetramera, the number of non-aggressive isolates was almost the same on wheat and rice varieties. In the present study it became clear that A. alternate, B. sorokiniana, C. lunata and H. tetramera are common foliar pathogens in rice and wheat crops and can cause soil-borne and foliar diseases.