Pathogenicity of some chrysosporium species isolated in France

In order to appreciate the pathogenicity of several geophilic Chrysosporium species (including Anixiopsis stercoraria, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, C. tropicum, C. pannorum, C. state of Arthroderma curreyi, C. state of A. multifidum, and C. state of A. tuberculatum), the authors have realized two series of experimental infestations. Inoculation of these fungi on the back of guinea pigs produced rare erythematous scaling lesions which spontaneously disappeared 3–5 weeks later. No real hair invasion was observed. In white mice, eight weeks after intraperitoneal inoculation, granulomas with necrotic center were observed in the peritoneal tissue with C. keratinophilum, C. tropicum, C. state of A. curreyi and C. state of A. tuberculatum. Conidia were often intact in necrotic centers and retrocultures were positive. With C. state of A. curreyi, spherical spores associated with rare budding cells were noted. The pathogenic role of these keratinophilic fungi is uncertain. However, their ability to remain viable for several weeks in skin and peritoneal tissue indicates that they could become pathogen in certain circumstances.This paper was presented at the X^th congress of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology at Barcelona, Spain from June 27 to July 1, 1988.     

Brief report on the isolation of arthroderma tuberculatum from a human source

Summary Arthroderma tuberculatum was isolated in pure culture from a macerated psoriatic lesion on a dentist's hand. The perfect stage of this fungus developed from the initial scrapings inoculated onto cornmeal agar. The initial scrapings inoculated onto Sabouraud-dextrose agar resembled young cultures ofTrichophyton rubrum on initial isolation; but microscopically demonstrated the imperfect stage (tuberculate aleuriospores) ofA. tuberculatum. Treatment (tar-allantoin ointment) prescribed for the psoriasis caused resolution of the lesions and subsequent cultures were negative. Pathogenicity of the fungus could not be established in this instance.This research was supported by Grant no. 2E—52 USPHS and by the Dermatologic Research Foundation of California, Inc.     

Pyrolysis gas-liquid chromatography applied to a study of variation in Arthroderma tuberculatum

Replicates of whole colonies of four species of closely related dermatophytes were analyzed by pyrolysis gas-liquid chromatography (PGLC). The four species included fifteen strains of Arthroderma tuberculatum, and two strains each of A. benhamiae, Nannizzia gypsea and N. incurvata.Individual/peaks on different pyrograms were identified as homologous with the aid of internal markers by the superimposition of pyrograms. The peak height data extracted from the pyrograms of the fungal samples were analyzed to compute average similarities between pairs of pyrograms. The average was calculated with each peak weighted equally, and log weighted for its information content. The results of the cluster analyses of proximities were generally similar.Most, but not all, replicates of each strain were similar enough to be clustered together. Some strains belonging to the same species were also similar enough to be grouped in one cluster. Other strains of a single species varied sufficiently to be put in separate clusters. The nearest neighbour to each OTU (pyrogram) was always a replicate of the same strain.     

Fungi colonizing hair-baits from three coastal beaches of Mexico

The abundance of hair-bait colonizing fungi was investigated on the beaches of Caracoles, Mocambo, and lcacos, located on the coasts of the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean, respectively. On each beach a sample of sandy soil was collected. The samples were analyzed by two selective isolation methods for keratinophilic fungi resulting in a total of 544 occurrences. A total of 17 species was found, of which 4 were ascomycetes and 13 hyphomycetes.Gymnascella dankaliensis andAspergillus terreus were the most abundant.Arthroderma curreyi andChrysosporium tropicum were found in low percentages in this survey. From the three beaches sampled, Icacos beach, on the Pacific Ocean coast had the highest number of isolated species.     

Contribution à la connaissance des fungi keratinophiles de l'ouest de la France V. Étude au microscope électronique à balayage

Résumé La recherche des Fungi kératinophiles dans 301 prélèvements de sol de la Loire-Atlantique a permis de trouver une fois sur troisArthroderma uncinatum. A. curreyi est assez abondant.Nannizzia cajetani, A. quadrifidum etA. tuberculatum ont été également assez souvent mis en évidence.Chrysosporium keratinophilum semble rare. Plus rares également sont les espèces plus spécialement pathogènes:A. benhamiae, N. fulva etN. incurvata.L'étude au microscope électronique à balayage permet de séparer et définir différentes espèces par l'observation des ornementations: verrues, granules, érosions planes, crêtes. C'est ainsi que nous pouvons confirmer la séparation des deux espècesN. fulva etN. incurvata.     

Isolation of keratinolytic fungi from a coal mine dump

During the study of fungal succesion in the coal mine dump in Brzezinka (Poland), soil samples were examined for keratinolytic fungi. These micro-organisms were rather poorly represented in the area studied. Out of 300 soil samples examined, only 48 (16%) were positive for keratinolytic fungi.Trichophyton ajelloi andArthroderma curreyi were the prevailing species. These species occurred practically at two locations, i.e. on the naked carbon rocks inhabited by algae crops (chiefly byCyanophyta) and in the pine litter. It can be supposed that the occurrence of keratinolytic fungi was more dependent on the favourable general conditions such as increasing organic matter content, microflora, and humidity than on the presence of keratin remains in the soil. Because of the lack of potentially pathogenic fungi, the coal mine dump examined cannot be considered as an important source of fungal infection.     

Mycoflora of birds' nests in nest-boxes

A mycoflora has been investigated in 57 nests of 8 free-living birds' species, placed in nest boxes, on 3 localities in Czechoslovakia. The nests have been shown to be densely inhabited by fungi: 476 isolates ofPhycomycetes, Ascomycetes and Fungi Imperfecti have been recorded, the mean number being 8.4 species in a nest. Keratinolytic fungi have been found in 92.8 % of nests, with the most commonly isolated speciesArthroderma ciferrii, Anixiopsis stercoraria, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, C. tropicum, Ctenomyces serratus, Arthroderma tuberculatum, A. quadrifidum andA. curreyi. From present studies results that birds' nests placed in holes or in boxes supposing they are lined with keratinous material could probably be the dominant habitat ofA. ciferrii (stat. con. =Trichophyton georgiae). Cellulolytic fungi have been found in 87.7 % of the nests, most often species of the generaFusarium, Chaetomium, Alternaria, Phoma andCladosporium. Further, fungi potentially zoopathogenic have been isolated (73.7 % of nests and 13.9 % of all isolates), e.g.,Absidia lichtheimii, Aspergillus amstelodami, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. nidulans, A. niger, Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, Microsporon cookei andTrichophyton ajelloi. In many cases have also been ascertained fungi causing sooty mildews of various plants (Alternaria alternata, Aureobasidium pullulans, Cladosporium spp.).As factors influencing both qualitative and quantitative composition of the mycoflora in the nests have been established: composition of lining material, its humidity and pH, birds' species, fledging, repeating nesting in a box, and locality.In keratinolytic fungi, the highest competitive saprophytic ability on a given substrate have revealedC. keratinophilum, A. stercoraria, A. ciferrii andC. tropicum, while the lowest oneA. quadrifidum andA. cuniculi.     

Untersuchungen zur Frage der Biologischen Regulation des Wachstums und der Verbreitung der Geophilen Dermatophyten im Erdboden

Zusammenfassung 1. Aus 200 verschiedenen Stellen eines Wiesengebietes mit dem Ausmaß von 10×100 m waren 600 Bodenproben untersucht worden. In 367 Proben (61,1%) wurde der NematodeDiploscapter coronata festgestellt.2. Der NematodeD. coronata verbraucht die vegetativen Teile der im Boden lebenden keratinophilen PilzeKeratinomyces ajelloi, Trichophyton terrestre, Arthroderma tuberculatum undChrysosporium sp. Dies verläuft auch in unsterilen Bodenproben. In denen, wo das Vorkommen desD. coronata besonders stark war, verhinderte er das Wachstum der Dermatophyten auch dann, wenn in die Bodenproben weitere sterile Haare zugegeben wurden.3. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß die Mikrofauna des Bodens grundsätzlich die Verbreitung der keratinophilen Pilze auch in unsterilen Bodenproben regulieren kann.

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Summary 1. 600 soil samples from 200 different spots of one meadow covering the area 10 by 100 m were examined. In 367 samples (61.1%) the nematodeDiploscapter coronata was found.2. The nematodeDiploscapter coronata consumes the vegetative parts of the keratinophilic soil fungiKeratinomyces ajelloi, Trichophyton terrestre, Chrysosporium keratinophilum andArthroderma tuberculatum even in non-sterile soil samples. In samples in which its occurrence was especially frequent it stopped the growth of dermatophytes even if sterile human hair had been added to the sample.3. The results show that the soil microfauna can considerably regulate the spreading of keratinophilic fungi even in non-sterile soil samples.

     

Keratinophilic fungi isolated from soil of the Abruzzo National Park,Italy

One hundred sixty one soil samples from the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo were analyzed. The keratinophilic fungi present in the soil samples were isolated and classified with the hair-bait method. The most common was T. ajelloi (28.6% of the total samples) followed by Chrysosporium keratinophilum (14.3%), C. sp. (11.2%), C. asperatum and Trichophyton sp. (6.8%), T. terrestre (5.6%), C. pannorum and C. state of Ctenomyces serratus (3.7%), C. tropicum (3.1%), M. cookei (2.5%) and the C. state of Arthroderma tuberculatum (1.9%). Other species, not belonging to the dermatophytes, were also isolated. The absence of dermatophytes was correlated with low human and animal population density.Altitude and vegetation did not seem to influence their distribution.     

Insecticidal activity of Piper tuberculatum Jacq. extracts: synergistic interaction of piperamides

Abstract

• 1 The insecticidal activity of the neotropical pepper Piper tuberculatum Jacq. and its isolated piperamides was studied. Bioassays with the mosquito Aedes atropalpus L. assessed the relative toxicity of the whole extract of Piper tuberculatum and four of the piperamides, which were isolated and identified, then prepared synthetically.
• 2 The results confirm that P. tuberculatum leaf extracts are as effective as black pepper seed extract and provide an alternative pepper insecticide from a more convenient source, the leaves.
• 3 Experiments with piperamides showed that the tertiary and quaternary mixtures have greater‐than‐additive toxicity compared to single compounds or binary mixtures. One of the four amide compounds, 4,5‐dihydropiperlonguminine, was the most acutely toxic in mosquito larvae bioassays.
• 4 A study of piperamide levels from different P. tuberculatum populations in Costa Rica determined that they were relatively homogeneous. Piper tuberculatum from only one of the five sites had higher levels of one piperamide, 4,5‐dihydropiperine, in both leaf and stem parts. One explanation for differences in the amide concentrations between populations is that one site is ecologically unique compared to the other four.

     

Mycoflora of camel and goat hairs from Al-Arish,Egypt

The frequency of occurrence of fungi in 120 hair samples of camel and goat from four different localities of Al-Arish governorate was determined.Twenty-six genera and 54 species were collected from the two substrates and the most common genera were Chrysosporium and Aspergillus, followed by Cladosporium. From the preceding genera Chrysosporium keratinophilum, C. tropicum, C. indicum, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger and Cladosporium cladosporioides. Also, other keratinophilic fungi were isolated such as C. luteum, C. pannorum, C. parvum, C. dermatitidis, C. inops, Arthroderma tuberculatum, Histoplasma capsulatum and Myceliophthora vellerea.     

Keratinolytic fungi in sewage sludge

Sewage sludge from the Upper Silesia Region of Poland were surveyed for keratinolytic fungi. Out of 100 Petri dishes examined, 89 were positive for these micro-organisms. Altogether, 185 fungal appearances belonging to 10 species were observed. Trichophyton terrestre with its teleomorph Arthroderma quadrifidum, T. ajelloi with A. uncinatum, Microsporum gypseum with Arthroderma sp., and Chrysosporium keratinophilum with Aphanoascus keratinophilus prevailed in the sludges. The sewage treatment technologies together with the sludge structure, humidity and pH were found to be critical factors determining the occurrence of keratinolytic fungi in the sludge environment. The qualitative and quantitative composition of keratinolytic fungi could be a useful tool in evaluation of sludge treatment processes.     

Toward a Novel Multilocus Phylogenetic Taxonomy for the Dermatophytes

Type and reference strains of members of the onygenalean family Arthrodermataceae have been sequenced for rDNA ITS and partial LSU, the ribosomal 60S protein, and fragments of β-tubulin and translation elongation factor 3. The resulting phylogenetic trees showed a large degree of correspondence, and topologies matched those of earlier published phylogenies demonstrating that the phylogenetic representation of dermatophytes and dermatophyte-like fungi has reached an acceptable level of stability. All trees showed Trichophyton to be polyphyletic. In the present paper, Trichophyton is restricted to mainly the derived clade, resulting in classification of nearly all anthropophilic dermatophytes in Trichophyton and Epidermophyton, along with some zoophilic species that regularly infect humans. Microsporum is restricted to some species around M. canis, while the geophilic species and zoophilic species that are more remote from the human sphere are divided over Arthroderma, Lophophyton and Nannizzia. A new genus Guarromyces is proposed for Keratinomyces ceretanicus. Thirteen new combinations are proposed; in an overview of all described species it is noted that the largest number of novelties was introduced during the decades 1920–1940, when morphological characters were used in addition to clinical features. Species are neo- or epi-typified where necessary, which was the case in Arthroderma curreyi, Epidermophyton floccosum, Lophophyton gallinae, Trichophyton equinum, T. mentagrophytes, T. quinckeanum, T. schoenleinii, T. soudanense, and T. verrucosum. In the newly proposed taxonomy, Trichophyton contains 16 species, Epidermophyton one species, Nannizzia 9 species, Microsporum 3 species, Lophophyton 1 species, Arthroderma 21 species and Ctenomyces 1 species, but more detailed studies remain needed to establish species borderlines. Each species now has a single valid name. Two new genera are introduced: Guarromyces and Paraphyton. The number of genera has increased, but species that are relevant to routine diagnostics now belong to smaller groups, which enhances their identification.     

Taxonomic study of keratinophilic fungi isolated from soil and some mammals in France

In France, most of the researches have showed the distribution of dermatophytes and other keratinophilic fungi in the soil and in the coat of wild mammals. During these last years, we have also practiced numerous investigations about the distribution of such fungi. The isolated species are: Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton terrestre, Trichophyton ajelloï, Trichophyton simii, Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum cookei, Microsporum nanum, Microsporum persicolor, Anixiopsis stercoraria, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Chrysosporium tropicum, Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma curreyi, Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma cuniculi, Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma tuberculatum, Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma multifidum, Ctenomycès serratus, Chrysosporium parvum, Chrysosporium indicum, Chrysosporium georgii, Chrysosporium merdarium, Chrysosporium asperatum, Chrysosporium pannorum.A key to these species is proposed: it attempts to provide an aid in identifying geophilic dermatophytes and related fungi (belonging to the Chrysosporium genus).     

Leucosporidium fellii sp. nov., a basidiomycetous yeast that degrades L(+)-tartaric acid

A new species of basidiomycetous yeast Leucosporidium fellii was isolated from soil in Portugal on a selective L(+)-tartaric acid medium. This yeast is self-sporulating but forms dikaryotic hyphae with clamp connections and is presumably homothallic. It differs from the type strain of Leucosporidium scottii in its life cycle, assimilation pattern and guanine-cytosine content and from the other described Leucosporidium species by additional characteristics.     

Trypanosoma pifanoi n. sp. from Colombian Bats*

SYNOPSIS. A new large trypanosome was found in the blood of 19 Artibeus lituratus and 2 Phyllostomus hastatus bats. The monomorphic trypanosome resembles Trypanosoma megadermae in some respects, but differs from it in that it is larger and has a short flagellum, both extremities are very tapered, the kinetoplast is very close to a small nucleus and there is a greater distance between the kinetoplast and the posterior extremity of the body. In diphasic blood-agar cultures there is a great variety of odd multiplication forms not described from other trypanosome cultures, but some simulate T. cruzi. This trypanosome is not capable of infecting mice, tissue culture cells, Carollia perspicillata bats, or triatomids, but is able to infect A. lituratus bats. Culture forms of the trypanosome inoculated intra-coelomically are pathogenic for several species of triatomids, and multiply in the hemolymph of Rhodnius prolizus, often producing forms similar to crithidiae of T. rangeli. Culture forms of the trypanosome seem to have common antigens with T. cruzi. This new species is described as Trypanosoma pifanoi.     

FRESHWATER HYPHOMYCETES OF THE NORTHERN APPALACHIAN HIGHLAND INCLUDING NEW ENGLAND,AND THREE COASTAL PLAIN STATES

Twenty-seven species of freshwater Hyphomycetes from two five-state areas in the northern Appalachian Highland, New England, and three Coastal Plain states were collected, isolated, and identified. The spores of three fungi which are probably aquatic Moniliales were also studied. Sigmoidea, a new Hyphomycete genus, includes submerged aquatic fungi which produce phialides laterally along the mycelium and sigmoid, multicellular phialospores. Varicosporium giganteum sp. n. produces terminal, hyaline, branched, and multiseptate aleuriospores. The main spore axis has one to four lateral branches which arise successively on one side of this axis. Tricladium marylandicum sp. n. is similar to T. splendens in that the lateral branches are constricted where each branch joins the main spore axis. It differs from this species in that the spore has a blunt apical cell on the main axis and on each of the lateral axes. Three possible methods of dispersal are presented to explain the cosmopolitan distribution of freshwater Hyphomycetes.     

Molecular Analysis of Chitin Synthase 1 (CHS1) Gene Sequences of Trichophyton mentagrophytes Complex and T. rubrum

Nucleotide sequences of chitin synthase 1 (CHS1) gene of dermatophytes, Arthroderma benhamiae, A. simii, A. vanbreuseghemii, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale (T. interdigitale), and T. rubrum were analyzed for their phylogenetic relationship. About 620-bp genomic DNA fragments of the CHS1 gene were amplified from these dermatophytes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. The CHS1 nucleotide sequences of these five dermatophytes showed more than 90% similarity between the species. The phylogenetic analysis of their sequences revealed that A. benhamiae, A. simii, A. vanbreuseghemii, and T. rubrum were genetically distinct from one another, but T. interdigitale was genetically very close to A. vanbreuseghemii. On the other hand, a specific restriction endonuclease site of HinfI was present in the CHS1 gene fragment of T. rubrum but not in those of A. benhamiae, A. simii, A. vanbreuseghemii and T. interdigitale. The molecular analysis of CHS1 genes will provide useful information for the identification of these Trichophyton species and the understanding of their evolution. Received: 6 March 1998 / Accepted: 4 May 1998     

A new Late Jurassic species of the rare synechodontiform shark, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Welcommia</Emphasis> (Chondrichthyes,Neoselachii)

A new Jurassic species of the very rare and incompletely known synechodontiform shark, Welcommia, is described. The new species, Welcommia cappettai, is represented only by a single tooth, precluding reconstruction of its dentition in detail. Nevertheless, this specimen provides sufficient information and characteristics to establish its taxonomic status. Welcommia cappettai n. sp. occurs in the middle Oxfordian (Upper Jurassic) of south-western Germany. This is the first unambiguous record and named species of Welcommia from the Late Jurassic, substantially reducing the rather large gap in the fossil record of this synechodontiform taxon. So far, two Welcommia species from the Lower Jurassic of Belgium and the Lower Cretaceous of southern France have been described. An additional, still unnamed species seemingly occurs in the Oxfordian of southern France. The new species has plesiomorphic and apomorphic characteristics and, probably, an intermediate dental pattern that tentatively enables reconstruction of evolutionary trends in the dentition of this shark from small and compact teeth with broad, almost triangular cusps, to mesio-distally lengthened teeth with elongated mesial heels resulting in an extremely extended mesial cutting edge in addition to more delicate cusp and cusplets in advanced forms. These differences might be related to improved feeding mechanisms. It is hypothesized that Welcommia was predominantly a component of the Mediterranean faunal province. The disappearance of Welcommia in the Early Cretaceous remains ambiguous and might be related to competition by other sharks, for example hexanchiforms, or might represent a collecting bias and/or taxonomic misidentification of isolated teeth.     

Plasmodium octamerium n. sp., an Avian Malaria Parasite from the Pintail Whydah Bird Vidua macroura*

SYNOPSIS. A new species of avian malaria parasite is described from the pintail whydah Vidua macroura, a very small African finch of the weaver bird family (Ploceidae). Its structure has been studied chiefly in the canary, to which it is easily transmissible by blood inoculation. Since the segmenters most often produce 8 merozoites, the name Plasmodium octamerium n. sp. is proposed. Other characteristics include sexual stages which are usually elongate, often slender, and do not displace the host cell nucleus, and gametocytes indistinguishable from those of many species of Haemoproteus. Erythrocytes are the only blood cells parasitized. The new species resembles Plasmodium fallax in many respects, but gives rise to fewer merozoites and the asexual forms are smaller. Blood-induced infections are also of strikingly different type in some host species. Among susceptible host species are several kinds of finches, pigeons, quail, young chicks, chukars, tree and song sparrows. In most of these hosts infections are mild, but some tree sparrows die as the result of blood infection, and chukars usually die because of massive invasion of the capillary endothelium of the brain by exoerythrocytic forms. These are of the gallinaceum type and may be quite large, producing hundreds of merozoites. Exoerythrocytic stages were sought but not found in other host species.