An autochthonous case of paracoccidioidomycosis in a new area of Ceara State, Northeastern Brazil

The largest endemic areas of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) in Brazil comprise the humid agricultural regions of the Southeast, South, and, recently, the Midwest and North regions. The Ceara State, located in the Brazilian Northeast region, presents semi-arid climate in most of its territory, characterized by high temperatures, scarce vegetation and low humidity. The objective of the present study was to describe a new autochthonous case of paracoccidioidomycosis from a distinct area of Ceara and review the characteristics of PCM occurrence in Northeastern Brazil. The patient was a 65-year-old male farmer who denied traveling outside the Ceara State or living in other locations. He was born and lived in the rural area known as Camara, bordering the municipalities of Itapaje and Itapipoca. Camara is one of the highest areas (around 720 m of altitude) of the Uruburetama mountains that exhibits tropical forests and is located in Northern Ceara, distant 139 km from the capital, Fortaleza. The patient sought for care, complaining of an oral lesion that appeared over the past three years. The hard palate lesion biopsy revealed multinucleated cells with cytoplasmic inclusions, compatible with PCM. After culture, P. brasiliensis was identified by polymerase chain reaction. Serological testing for PCM was reagent. The patient was treated with itraconazole for approximately 17 months, persisting free of symptoms after 15 months of follow-up. Regarding this new autochthonous case in the Ceara State, PCM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with suggestive clinical manifestations, proceeding from the mountainous areas of Ceara

Meningitis caused by Capnocytophaga canimorsus in a COVID-19 patient: a rare complication of dog bites

Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a gram-negative rod that is part of the commensal microbiota of dogs’ and cats’ mouths. In this case, we report an 85-year-old man with COVID-19 who had his right arm bitten by a dog. His symptoms were impaired consciousness, agitation and aggressive behavior. Physical examination revealed neck stiffness and Brudzinski’s sign. The cerebrospinal fluid culture was compatible with Capnocytophaga canimorsus. He required intensive care and received a 14-day prescription of meropenem. After 40 days of hospitalization, the patient was fully recovered and was discharged. This case highlights the importance of physician and microbiologist be awareness of this disease, mainly in patients with neurological symptoms after a dog or cat bite

Biochemical Characterization of an In-House Coccidioides Antigen: Perspectives for the Immunodiagnosis of Coccidioidomycosis

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reactivity of an in-house antigen, extracted from a strain of C. posadasii isolated in northeastern Brazil, by radial immunodiffusion and Western blotting, as well as to establish its biochemical characterization. the protein antigen was initially extracted with the use of solid ammonium sulfate and characterized by 1-D electrophoresis. Subsequently, it was tested by means of double radial immunodiffusion and Western blotting. A positive reaction was observed against the antigen by both immunodiagnostic techniques tested on sera from patients suffering from coccidioidomycosis. Besides this, two immunoreactive protein bands were observed and were revealed to be a beta-glucosidase and a glutamine synthetase after sequencing of the respective N-terminal regions. Our in-house Coccidioides antigen can be promising as a quick and low-cost diagnostic tool without the risk of direct manipulation of the microorganism.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education PersonnelUniv Fed Ceara, Specialized Med Mycol Ctr, Sch Med, BR-60430270 Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniv Estadual Ceara, Postgrad Program Vet Sci, Sch Vet Med, BR-60740000 Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniv Fed Ceara, Dept Biochem & Mol Biol, BR-60455760 Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, BR-04021001 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, BR-04021001 São Paulo, BrazilCNPq: 302574/2009-3CNPq: 306637/2010-3Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel: CAPES/PNPD2103/2009Web of Scienc

INCIDÊNCIA DOS VÍRUS RESPIRATÓRIOS DURANTE A PANDEMIA DE COVID-19

Introdução/objetivo: Infecções respiratórias causam grande impacto em custos e morbimortalidade, sendo infecções virais as maiores responsáveis. Durante a pandemia de SARS-CoV-2, ocorreu aumento na disponibilização de exames de biologia molecular, facilitando o acesso ao diagnóstico etiológico. O objetivo do estudo é apresentar a epidemiologia dos últimos dois anos, durante a pandemia de Covid-19, dos vírus Influenza A (FluA), Influenza B (FluB) e Vírus Sincicial Respiratório (VSR). Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo da base de dados de exames realizados na rede da DASA no período de 01/01/2021 a 31/05/2023, com estratificação por faixa etária, gênero, estado e estação do ano. Incluídos resultados de reação em cadeia da polimerase para FluA, FluB e VSR realizados nos seguintes painéis: Quadriplex, Respiratório FilmArray® 2.1 e Pneumonia FilmArray® em pacientes internados e ambulatoriais, em amostras de trato respiratório superior e/ou inferior. Resultados: Realizados 215.100 exames em 66.266 pacientes, sendo 15.367 (7,1%) exames com detecção de algum vírus, com 93,6% realizados em São Paulo, Distrito Federal, Rio de Janeiro e Paraná. Durante o período, o VSR foi detectado em 50,4% dos exames positivos, seguido de FluA com 44,5%. O VSR foi predominante durante todo o período estudado, com exceção de dezembro/2021 e janeiro/2022 e setembro e outubro/2022, onde o FluA foi predominante, sem considerar o SARS-CoV-2. O VSR foi detectado em 88% das amostras positivas na faixa etária de 0 a 5 anos, 19% entre 6 e 10 anos, 10% entre 11 e 18 anos, 13% entre 19 a 59 anos e 25% nos pacientes com 60 anos ou mais. O VSR foi predominante durante o inverno, outono e primavera, só sendo ultrapassado pelo FluA no verão. No ano de 2023, até maio, o VSR foi o vírus mais detectado. Conclusão: Diante do grande número de exames incluídos nesse estudo, temos visão ampla do cenário epidemiológico brasileiro em relação aos vírus respiratórios estudados. Observa-se que, apesar do grande pico de infecções por FluA entre novembro de 2021 e fevereiro de 2022, o número acumulado de exames positivos para VSR no período do estudo foi o mais elevado, mostrando uma persistência desse vírus em todos os períodos do ano, principalmente nos extremos de faixa etária, até 5 anos e após 60 anos. Ressaltamos a importância desses dados para a programação de ações de saúde pública, como definição de período ideal para início de vacinação contra influenza e para as vacinas recentemente desenvolvidas contra VSR

Easy Storage Strategies for Sporothrix spp. Strains

The present study evaluated the maintenance of Sporothrix spp. (6 Sporothrix brasiliensis; 6 S. schenckii; 5 S. mexicana, and 3 S. globosa) in saline at 4 degrees C, and in 10% glycerol plus either 10% lactose or 10% sucrose, at -20 degrees C and -80 degrees C. Viability was assessed after 3, 6, and 9 months of storage, through the recovery of strains on potato dextrose agar and analysis of macro- and micromorphological features. Conidium quantification was performed before and after storage, at 3, 6 and 9 months. 100% viability was observed, regardless of storage conditions or time period. Storage at 4 degrees C and at -20 degrees C did not alter the number of conidia, but lower conidium counts were observed at -80 degrees C. This study shows that the combination of glycerol with lactose or sucrose is effective to maintain Sporothrix spp. at freezing temperatures.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Fed Ceara, Grad Program Med Microbiol, Specialized Med Mycol Ctr, Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniv Fed Ceara, Sch Med, Christus Coll, UNICHRISTUS, Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniv Fed Ceara, Dept Stat & Appl Math, Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniv Fed Ceara, Grad Program Med Sci, Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniv Estadual Ceara, Grad Program Vet Sci, Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilCNPq: PROTAX 562296/2010-7CNPq: 304779/2011-3CNPq: 504189/2012-3Web of Scienc