Prevalence of dermatomycoses in Mal de Meleda patients: A field study

Mal de Meleda is a rare autosomal recessive form of palmoplantar keratoderma characterized by hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles. The presence of yeast and dermatophytes was investigated in 29 mal de Meleda patients from Koprucay canyon, Turkey, a newer geographical focus, and was found in 62.0% and 20.7% of cases, respectively. Antifungal resistance of isolates was not detected

Deni̇zli̇ şehi̇r merkezi̇nde kovuklu agaç gövdeleri̇nden Cryptococcus neoformans i̇zolasyonu

Cryptococcus neoformons is a basidiomycetous yeast leading to life-threatening infections in human and animals. It has been isolated from decaying hollows and fissures from various tree species in different parts of the world. The isolation of the yeast from the environment is less in the eastern part of Mediterranean area. Only one C.neoformans strain from debris of Eucalyptus comolduleosis in the blossoming period, has been reported by consecutive studies done in suspected areas since the last 10 years. In this study, 300 tree including trunk hollows and fissures have been screened for colonization of Cneoformans in Denizli city (located on Aegean part of Turkey) center during July 2008. All samples has been collected by swabbing technique and cultured on minimal Staib agar ME,dium (without creatinine and potassium clihydroden phosphate). Two (0.6%) strains of Cneoformons have been isolated from the total of 300 screened trees. One of these isolates was from Platonus orientolis (plane tree; n= 92) and one from Punica gronatum (pomegranate tree; n= 2). Six and three colonies per plate have been isolated from Porientolis and Pyronatum samples, respectively. Cneoformans has not been isolated in the repeat cultures done in the following two months. Although Cneoformons was isolated from previously unaccomplished niches in this study, our results suggested that Cneoformons colonization of trees trunk hollows and fissures was not common in Denizli city center

Investigation of mold fungi in air samples of elementary schools and evaluation of allergen-specific IgE levels in students' sera

Atmospheric fungal spores play important role in allergic reactions in atopic individuals. Monitorization of those spores found in the environment of atopic cases is crucial for the choice of the antigens that will be included in allergen screening procedures and precautions to be taken against mold-originated health problems. Since most of the people spend plenty of time indoors in recent years, the effects of exposure to indoor air fungi on human health have gained importance. This study was aimed to investigate the indoor air mold distribution of elementary schools in Denizli province (located in west Anatolia, Turkey) and to compare the allergen-specific IgE levels of children against the most frequently detected mold genus. A questionnaire (MM080) was distributed to the 4967 students (6-8 year-old) attending first and second degrees of 16 different elementary schools with scattered locations in city center. This questionnaire form included the questions related to the general information about the child, school environment, allergic complaints since last year, home environment and nutrition. Response rate to the questionnaire was 51.6% (2565/4967). Air samples were collected from 18 classrooms in March 2009, during which high rates of allergic symptoms were observed according to the questionnaire results. Mold fungi belonging to 10 different genera (Pénicillium spp. 46%; Aspergillus spp. 18%; Cladosporium spp. 17%; Alternaria spp. 15%; Drechslern spp. 1 %; Chrysosporium, Fusarium, Conidiobolus and Cladathecium species 0.5%; unidentified 1%) were isolated from indoor air of classrooms. Since the most frequently detected mold was Pénicillium spp. (46%), the 48 children with atopic symptoms were called to the hospital for the determination of total IgE and Pénicillium specific IgE in their sera. Twenty two students accepted the invitation and serum total IgE (Immulite 2000; Diagnostic Product Corporation, USA) and allergen-specific IgE (Pénicillium brevicompactum, Pénicillium camemberti, Pénicillium chrysogenum, Pénicillium commune, Pénicillium expansum, Pénicillium fréquentons, Pénicillium glaucum, Pénicillium notatum, Pénicillium roquefortivz Pénicillium viridicatum) (RIDASCREEN; R-Biopharm AG, Germany) levels were determined in those children. Total IgE levels above reference ranges were detected in 41 % (9/22) of the screened sera samples. P.roqueforti, P.commune and P.camemberti antibodies were higher (Odds ratio as 5.50, 4.0 and 3.75, respectively) in sera with high total IgE levels. No independent variables were determined between individual and/or environmental factors and Penicillium-specific IgE antibodies. It was concluded that those three strains should be chosen as antigens for mold allergy screening tests which will be performed among atopic cases in our region. In conclusion it should be kept in mind that molds have a possible role in the development of allergic symptoms, however, they are not the sole determining factor in this process. In the investigation of the allergic diseases environmental factors should be considered and standardized methods should be applied

Investigation of bartonella henselae seroprevalence and related risk factors in blood donors admitted to pamukkale university blood center

Bartonella henselae is an emerging infectious agent that mainly causes cat scratch disease, basillary angiomatosis and peliosis hepatitis. Although many basillary angiomatosis cases have been reported especially from the Mediterranean region of Turkey, adequate data about the seroprevalence of B.henselae in Turkey does not exist. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of B.henselae in volunteer blood donors and the related risk factors. In this study, sera samples were randomly collected from 800 (771 man, 29 women; age range: 18-60 years) voluntary healthy blood donors admitted to Pamukkale University Research and Training Hospital. B.henselae (Houston-1 strain) total antibodies were investigated by an in-house indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay. Seropositivity was detected in 6% (48/800) of the donors. B.henselae (Houston-1 ) antibody titer was 1 /64 in 40 of the donors, 1 /128 in 4, 1/256 in 2, 1/512 in 1 and 1/1024 in 1 of the donors. Statistical analysis of epidemiological and demographical data revealed that high seroprevalence rates have been found in rabbit Stockfarmers (p= 0.004), students staying at hostels (p= 0.04) and people with history of tick-bite (p= 0.03). No significant statistical differences were found in each related groups in terms of age, sex, chronic disorders, sport activities, outside behaviors, being injured by any wild or domestic animals, working outdoors, geographical properties of the area of inhabitance, hunting and travelling (p> 0.05). One of the high titer (1 /512) antibody positive subjects was a cat owner and had a history of Phlebotomus bite, pediculosis and sporting in open area while 1/1024 titer positive case was a farmer and a dog owner. Our healthy blood donors' seroprevalence results are similar to those of other Mediterranean countries. The analysis of epidemiological data revealed that tick bite history and rabbit stockfarming were the risk factors for B.henselae infection. Variability and regional intensity of vectors may provide important clues to spreading disease. Consequently, these data showed that bartonellosis is an emerging disease in our country and detailed questionnaire for blood donors may be helpful to prevent transmission. Further larger scale research is necessary to determine the seroprevalence of B.henselae and analyse the related risk factors in Mediterranean-type climate regions

Evaluation of a new medium, eggplant (Solanum melongena) agar as a screening medium for cryptococcus neoformans in environmental samples

Cryptococcus neofomans is an encapsulated yeast-like fungus that causes life-threatening infections, especially in immunosuppresive patients. C.neoformans infection is believed to be acquired via inhalation of aerosolized particles from the environment. Avian guano, decaying tree hollows and soil are the related known environmental niches. Brown pigmented yeast growth from the precursors in growth media is an important step for the identification and isolation of C.neoformans. Seeds of plants in nature are preferred owing to easy accessibility and low costs for the preperation of such media. Guizotia abysinicca (Niger seed) as Staib agar, Helianthus annus (Sunflower) as Pal's medium, Brassica nigra (Mustard) agar, tobacco agar, Mucuna pruriens (Velvet bean) seed agar, Perilla frutescens (Beefsteak plant) seed agar, Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry) agar and ground red hot pepper agar are pigment-based selective media for the differentiation of C.neoformans. The aim of this study was to observe the pigment production of Cneoformans in a new medium based on eggplant (Solanum melongena) and also to compare its performance with the simplified Staib, Pal's and tobacco agar for isolation from the environment. Three different eggplant-based medium (S.melongena Melanzaza viserba, S.melongena Pinstripe F1 and S.ovigerum Ivory F1) were included in the study. Pigment-forming eggplant medium, simplified Staib agar, Pal's agar and tobacco agar were used for the cultivation of the environmental swabbed samples from 19 Eucalyptus camaldulensis trunk hollows in continuous colonization region. While pigment formation were observed with S.melongena Melanzaza viserba and S.melongena Pinstripe F1 containing media, S.ovigerum Ivory F1 medium was found to be non-reactive. In colonization area (Gökova-Akyaka, Turkey), 11 (57.9%) out of 19 E.camaldulensis samples were positive with simplified Staib agar, Pal's agar and eggplant agar while 10 (52.6%) of them are positive with tobacco agar. C.neoformans colony forming unit (cfu) per plate were found as 51, 57 and 48 (median values) on simplified Staib agar, Pal's agar and eggplant agar, respectively, while tobacco agar has lower performance with 33 cfu/petri. No statistically significant difference were found between simplified Staib agar, Pal's agar and eggplant agar's performances for C.neoformans isolations from the nature (p=0.71). In conclusion, easily prepared eggplant agar is as functional as widely used media such as simplified Staib agar and Pal's agar for the isolation of C.neoformans from the natural environment

Detection of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii in honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies

The plant flora has an important role in the ecology of Cryptococcus neoformans. It is estimated that the environmental spreading and contamination of human beings with this yeast occurs via contaminated particles of plants. Cultivation of canopy parts of plants in selective media is the most widely used isolation method of this yeast. Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii was isolated from honeybee colonies in Eucalyptus forests but was not isolated from the places where this flora did not exist. Our results indicate that the occurrence of C. neoformans in honeybee colonies during the flowering season of Eucalyptus spp. trees can be an important bioindicator for environmental yeast presence. The screening of honeybee colonies is a practical and a rapid method for the monitoring of the C. neoformans presence in flowering plants

First report of Fusarium species occurrence in loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nests and hatchling success in Iztuzu Beach, Turkey

There are various biotic factors affecting the hatching success of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) nesting on Mediterranean beaches. Eggs contaminated by fungi and bacteria are adversely affected in terms of hatching success. This study aims to identify Fusarium species that cause infection by sampling eggs and nest sands that failed to hatch during the 2015–2016 nesting season. Biospeedy fungal diversity kit was used to identify Fusarium species. Fungi were isolated from eggs and nest sands F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. falciforme and F. keratoplasticum were isolated from nest sand, and F. solani, F. oxysporum were isolated from egg contents. Fusarium species were determined for the first time using molecular methods for Turkey. Fusarium solani (54.55%) was observed to be dominant and F. oxysporum (40.91%) subdominant species. In addition to these dominant species, F. falciforme (1.82%) and F. keratoplasticum (2.73%) have been the other isolated species. The hatching success of the nests contaminated with Fusarium spp. was found to be 10.6% lower than in non-infected ones. Although there was no significant difference between the percentage of hatchling success in infected and non-infected nests in the 2015 season (n = 20) where the number of nests used in sampling was low, a significant difference was found between the success rates in the 2016 season (n = 41) where the number of nests used in sampling was higher (p = 0.676, p = 0.028, respectively). Nest temperature, depth and distance from the sea were higher infection rate, whereas relative humidity was lower in infected nests than in non-infected nests (p < 0.05 for all). Identifying the Fusarium species, which pose serious risks for sea turtle nests worldwide, and investigating their effects on hatching success became more of an issue. In this study, the determination of Fusarium species contaminating the eggs in Iztuzu Beach (Muğla, Turkey) and their sequence analysis was conducted for the first time. © 2020, Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences

HIV-negative case of bacillary angiomatosis with chronic hepatitis B

Bacillary angiomatosis (BA) is an infectious disease which occurs predominantly in immunosuppressive patients and rarely in immunocompetent individuals. We had a case of BA who presented with a red cutaneous nodule on his left leg of which histopathological examination revealed marked lobular proliferation of capillaries throughout the interstitium and clusters of bacilli with hematoxylin-eosin and Warthin-Starry stains, respectively. Antibody titer against Bartonella henselae was 1/32. The only systemic disease the patient had was chronic hepatitis B. HIV was negative and no other immunosuppressive status was established. In this case we believe that the immunological differences secondary to chronic hepatitis B could have caused a tendency for the disease development. © 2010 Japanese Dermatological Association