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Revista Argentina de Microbiologia Apr 2024Pseudomycetomas are rare fungal subcutaneous infections caused by dermatophytes, which are mainly observed in immunocompromised patients. Mycobacterium genavense is...
Pseudomycetomas are rare fungal subcutaneous infections caused by dermatophytes, which are mainly observed in immunocompromised patients. Mycobacterium genavense is considered an opportunistic pathogen in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), clinically resembling the presentation of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). Here, we describe the case of a 26-year-old PLWHA with a 3-month history of a 4cm tumoral, duroelastic and painful lesion located on the back. Histopathology of the tumoral lesion revealed chronic granulomatous inflammation with grains composed of PAS-positive and Grocott-positive septate hyphae, as well as acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Culture on Sabouraud and lactrimel agar developed colonies that were later identified as Microsporum canis. In successive samples, the AFB were identified as M. genavense by restriction analysis of PCR products. Immunocompromised PLWHA not only suffer increased susceptibility to diseases due to unusual pathogens but also atypical clinical presentation of frequently encountered pathogens.
PubMed: 38644065
DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2024.02.005 -
Archivos Argentinos de Pediatria Apr 2024Tinea capitis is a dermatophytosis, which is more common in children. It is caused by dermatophytes that vary according to the region; the most frequently isolated...
Tinea capitis is a dermatophytosis, which is more common in children. It is caused by dermatophytes that vary according to the region; the most frequently isolated dermatophyte in our setting is Microsporum canis. Given its anthropophilic nature, its dissemination via interpersonal transmission and through the use of hair care tools is very common. In the course of the past year, an increase has been reported in the incidence of a pathogen that was very rare in our setting: Trichophyton tonsurans. Here we describe a retrospective study of cases of tinea capitis caused by Trichophyton tonsurans identified between September 2021 and March 2023 in the Department of Pediatric Dermatology at a general hospital of the City of Buenos Aires.
PubMed: 38608007
DOI: 10.5546/aap.2023-10254.eng -
Cureus Mar 2024Tinea capitis is a common fungal infection of the scalp, primarily affecting children, and caused by fungi like and . Its pathogenesis is influenced by both...
Tinea capitis is a common fungal infection of the scalp, primarily affecting children, and caused by fungi like and . Its pathogenesis is influenced by both host-specific and environmental factors, resulting in various clinical presentations including hair loss and scaling of the scalp. We present the case of an eight-year-old male with tinea capitis, characterized by itching and hair loss in the occipital area. Examination revealed characteristic findings on trichoscopy, and direct examination of hair confirmed parasitization. Treatment with terbinafine was initiated, leading to the resolution of symptoms. Epidemiological variations in the etiology of tinea capitis exist globally, with predominating in some regions and in others. Trichoscopy is a valuable diagnostic tool for differentiating fungal infections, guiding treatment decisions. Despite the efficiency of direct skin and hair examination, the common occurrence of tinea and the lack of mycological centers in many clinics pose challenges. To address this, we propose integrating trichoscopy and epidemiological and clinical data for a quick in-office decision tool.
PubMed: 38601420
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.55919 -
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences May 2024Camels are highly suited for severe desert conditions and able to provide most of the natural products like urine, which has been used as alternative medicine to treat... (Review)
Review
Camels are highly suited for severe desert conditions and able to provide most of the natural products like urine, which has been used as alternative medicine to treat diverse infections and disorders. There is, however, a shortage and paucity of scientific reviews highlighting the antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral effects of camel urine. By better understanding its antimicrobial characteristics, our overarching aim is to provide an exhaustive overview of this valuable natural product by synthesizing and summarizing data on the efficacy of this biofluid and also describing the potential substances exhibiting antimicrobial properties. We searched three databases in order to point out relevant articles (Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar) until December 2022. Research articles of interest evaluating the antimicrobial effects of camel urine were selected. Overall, camel urine furnished promising antibacterial activities against gram-positive bacteria, namely (30 mm), (22 mm), (25 mm) and (21 mm), as well as gram-negative bacteria, especially and spp., without forgetting its efficiency on as well. The excretion also showed its potency against H1N1 virus, vesicular stomatitis virus and middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Similarly, the camel urine featured strong antifungal activity against and dermatophytes with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 0.625 μg/ml against , 2.5 μg/ml against and 1.25 μg/ml against and . This comprehensive review will be valuable for researchers interested in investigating the potential of camel urine in the development of novel broad-spectrum key molecules targeting a wide range of drug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms.
PubMed: 38495380
DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2024.103966 -
International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2024is a widely distributed dermatophyte, which is among the main etiological agents of dermatophytosis in humans and domestic animals. This fungus invades, colonizes and... (Review)
Review
is a widely distributed dermatophyte, which is among the main etiological agents of dermatophytosis in humans and domestic animals. This fungus invades, colonizes and nourishes itself on the keratinized tissues of the host through various virulence factors. This review will bring together the known information about the mechanisms, enzymes and their associated genes relevant to the pathogenesis processes of the fungus and will provide an overview of those virulence factors that should be better studied to establish effective methods of prevention and control of the disease. Public databases using the MeSH terms "", "virulence factors" and each individual virulence factor were reviewed to enlist a series of articles, from where only original works in English and Spanish that included relevant information on the subject were selected. Out of the 147 articles obtained in the review, 46 were selected that reported virulence factors for in a period between 1988 and 2023. The rest of the articles were discarded because they did not contain information on the topic (67), some were written in different languages (3), and others were repeated in two or more databases (24) or were not original articles (7). The main virulence factors in are keratinases, fungilisins and subtilisins. However, less commonly reported are biofilms or dipeptidylpeptidases, among others, which have been little researched because they vary in expression or activity between strains and are not considered essential for the infection and survival of the fungus. Although it is known that they are truly involved in resistance, infection and metabolism, we recognize that their study could strengthen the knowledge of the pathogenesis of with the aim of achieving effective treatments, as well as the prevention and control of infection.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Virulence Factors; Microsporum; Animals, Domestic; Subtilisins
PubMed: 38473782
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052533 -
Infection and Drug Resistance 2024Tinea capitis, a common cutaneous fungal infection, shows an increasing prevalence with the increasing number of pets. We present tinea capitis in a 4-year-old girl...
Tinea capitis, a common cutaneous fungal infection, shows an increasing prevalence with the increasing number of pets. We present tinea capitis in a 4-year-old girl presenting without typical symptoms such as alopecia or hair breakage. After a comprehensive evaluation including dermoscopy, Wood's light, direct KOH fluorescent staining, scanning electron microscopy, fungal culture and mass spectrometry analysis, a diagnosis of tinea capitis infected Microsporum canis carried by domestic cats was made. We preliminarily explored the two modes of hair erosion by tinea capitis fungi and analyzed the possibility of the feature in this case. This case highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic intervention in cases of paediatric tinea capitis, particularly in households with resident pets.
PubMed: 38433782
DOI: 10.2147/IDR.S451200 -
Medical Mycology Journal 2024Microsporum canis is a type of dermatophyte that causes zoonotic dermatophytosis in cats and dogs. We report three cases of tinea corporis due to M. canis from a single...
Microsporum canis is a type of dermatophyte that causes zoonotic dermatophytosis in cats and dogs. We report three cases of tinea corporis due to M. canis from a single household with a domestic cat as a pet. The cases included a woman in her thirties (mother), a girl in her teens (older sister), and a girl in her teens (younger sister). Following sudden hair loss in the domestic cat, annular erythema with pruritus and scales appeared on the face, neck, and limbs of the older sister, younger sister, and mother, sequentially; they subsequently visited our hospital. Potassium hydroxide direct microscopy revealed filamentous fungi on all three women. In addition, short-haired colonies with a white to yellowish-white color and extending in a radial manner were found in cultures using a flat plate agar medium. A slide culture with the same medium indicated pointed spindle-shaped macroconidia with 7-8 septa. Therefore, the cases were diagnosed as tinea corporis due to M. canis. Genetic analysis of the cells of the cat and the mother, older sister, and younger sister using multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT) indicated that all cases were classified into the same genotype, suggesting that the transmission route of these cases was familial. Here, we show that MLMT is useful in identifying the infection route in cases of tinea corporis due to M. canis.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Female; Animals; Dogs; Cats; Tinea; Microsporum; Mothers; Microsatellite Repeats; Dermatomycoses
PubMed: 38417881
DOI: 10.3314/mmj.23-00013 -
BMC Veterinary Research Feb 2024Staphylococcus spp and Microsporum canis are zoonotic microorganisms which can cause infections and systemic diseases. The bone infection is usually caused by invasion...
BACKGROUND
Staphylococcus spp and Microsporum canis are zoonotic microorganisms which can cause infections and systemic diseases. The bone infection is usually caused by invasion of pathogen through the hematologic route. Mixed osteomyelitis caused by bacteria and fungi is rare, and to date, there have been no reports of mixed osteomyelitis with Staphylococcus spp. and Microsporum canis.
CASE PRESENTATION
This essay reports an atypical presentation of mixed osteomyelitis (Staphylococcus spp. and Microsporum canis) in a domestic cat. A 15-month-old female Persian cat was presented to a veterinary service; the main complaint was the appearance of a nodule in the mandibular ventral rostral region. A radiographic exam performed on the animal showed proliferative and osteolytic bone lesions. The patient was submitted to a biopsy for histopathological evaluation, along with bacterial and fungal cultures. Results showed mixed osteomyelitis by Staphylococcus spp. and Microsporum canis. Microbial Sensitivity Test was performed to choose a more suitable treatment. Two surgical procedures were executed to resect and curette the lesion, and treatments with anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, and antifungal drugs were established, showing a positive clinical evolution. After 8 months of treatment, the patient's owner moved to a different city, and the animal was seen by other veterinarians, who followed along with the same treatment. However, due to complications and a diminishing quality of life over 4 years of diagnosis, the patient was euthanized.
CONCLUSION
Given the above, mixed osteomyelitis is difficult to treat and can cause losses of life quality resulting death, especially in infections where M. canis is the agent causing the disease. Bacterial osteomyelitis is more frequently reported. But the lack of investigation of microorganisms other than bacteria, such as fungal cases, may imply in underdiagnosed cases. Treatment of osteomyelitis can be difficult considering the difficulties in isolating the pathological agent, resistance to the drug used, prolonged treatment time, and cost.
Topics: Cats; Female; Animals; Dermatomycoses; Quality of Life; Antifungal Agents; Osteomyelitis; Cat Diseases; Microsporum
PubMed: 38374006
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-03904-4 -
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Jan 2024In contrast to superficial fungal infections, such as dermatophytosis, invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are characterised by penetration of tissues by fungal elements.... (Review)
Review
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
In contrast to superficial fungal infections, such as dermatophytosis, invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are characterised by penetration of tissues by fungal elements. Disease can spread locally within a region or can disseminate haematogenously or via the lymphatics. The environment is the most common reservoir of infection. Since fungal spores are airborne, indoor cats are also susceptible to IFIs. Some environmental fungi are ubiquitous and present globally, while others are endemic or hyperendemic within specific geographic regions. Zoonotic pathogens include and
AIM
In the first of a two-part article series, the approach to the investigation of feline IFIs and oomycoses is reviewed. As well as tips for diagnosis, and information on the ecological niche and distribution of fungal pathogens, the review covers clinical presentation of the most common IFIs, including cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, sporotrichosis, phaeohyphomycosis, aspergillosis and dermatophytic pseudomycetoma, as well as the oomycoses pythiosis, lagenidiosis and paralagenidiosis. In Part 2, the spectrum of activity, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties and adverse effects of antifungal drugs are reviewed, and the treatment and prognosis for specific IFIs and oomycoses are discussed.
EVIDENCE BASE
The review draws on published evidence and the authors' combined expertise in feline medicine, mycology, dermatology, clinical pathology and anatomical pathology.
Topics: Cats; Animals; Invasive Fungal Infections; Antifungal Agents; Coccidioidomycosis; Dermatomycoses; Histoplasmosis; Cat Diseases
PubMed: 38189288
DOI: 10.1177/1098612X231219696 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023The treatment of dermatophytoses, the most common human fungal infections, requires new alternatives. The aim of this study was to determine the antidermatophytic...
The treatment of dermatophytoses, the most common human fungal infections, requires new alternatives. The aim of this study was to determine the antidermatophytic activity of the aqueous Azorean Black Tea extract (ABT), together with an approach to the mechanisms of action. The phytochemical analysis of ABT extract was performed by HPLC. The dermatophytes susceptibility was assessed using a broth microdilution assay; potential synergies with terbinafine and griseofulvin were evaluated by the checkerboard assay. The mechanism of action was appraised by the quantification of the fungal cell wall chitin and β-1,3-glucan, and by membrane ergosterol. The presence of ultrastructural modifications was studied by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The ABT extract contained organic and phenolic acids, flavonoids, theaflavins and alkaloids. It showed an antidermatophytic effect, with MIC values of 250 µg/mL for , 125 µg/mL for and 500 µg/mL for ; at these concentrations, the extract was fungicidal. An additive effect of ABT in association to terbinafine on these three dermatophytes was observed. The ABT extract caused a significant reduction in β-1,3-glucan content, indicating the synthesis of this cell wall component as a possible target. The present study identifies the antidermatophytic activity of the ABT and highlights its potential to improve the effectiveness of conventional topical treatment currently used for the management of skin or mucosal fungal infections.
Topics: Humans; Antifungal Agents; Terbinafine; Camellia sinensis; Tea; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Arthrodermataceae; Fungicides, Industrial; Plant Extracts; Mycoses; Trichophyton
PubMed: 38067505
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237775