Occurrence and experimental infection of toads (Bufo marinus and B. granulosus) with mycobacterium chelonei subsp. abscessus

In a survey of 234 Amazonian toads and frogs, six strains of Mycobacterium chelonei subsp. abscessus were isolated from the liver or spleen of four of 66 Bufo marinus (6.1%) and from the kidney or peritoneal fluid of two of 86 B. granulosus (2.3%). There were no histopathological lesions in the viscera of the infected animals. Experimental infection of 29 captive B. marinus and B. granulosus, by the intraperitoneal route, with a pooled inoculum of M. chelonei subsp. abscessus caused five deaths near the end of a 2-month observation period. M. chelonei subsp. abscessus was isolated from the liver, spleen, kidney, gonad, heart and lung of toads killed at various intervals after inoculation, and intracellular acid-fast bacilli were seen in these organs. Histological evidence of invasion of tissues by mycobacteria became apparent from the 45th day after infection. The susceptibility to infection of B. marinus and B. granulosus suggests that these toads may serve as a fortuitous animal host for M. chelonei subsp. abscessus

Lista atualizada de quirópteros da Amazônia Brasileira

We present an updated checklist on bats of the Amazon Basin in Brazil, based on our collection of 3.081 specimens in 12 areas in the Basin and a review of the existing literature. The list consists of 95 species belonging to 51 genera and 9 families: 3 species (Micronycteris hirsuta, Natalus stramineus and Rhogessa tumida) are being cited for the first time as present in the Amazon Basin; of the remaining 92 species reported by previous workers. 68 were registered and confirmed by the present authors.É apresentada uma lista atualizada de quirópteros da região amazônica brasileira, baseada em nossa coleção de 3.081 exemplares capturados em 12 áreas na Bacia Amazônica e com referência às literaturas anteriormente publicadas. A lista conta com 95 espécies de 51 gêneros e 9 famílias, sendo 3 espécies (Micronycteris hirsuta, Natalus stramineus e Rhogessa tumida) citadas pela primeira vez como ocorrendo na região; e das demais alistadas por pesquisadores anteriores, são registradas e confirmadas 68 espécies

Paracoccidioidin and histoplasmin sensitivity in Coari (state of Amazonas), Brazil

A skin test survey with paracoccidioidin and histoplasmin was conducted on 495 residents of Coari in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Positive dermal reactions to paracoccidioidin and histoplasmin were seen, respectively, in 13.9% and 50.1% of the study subjects. Specific reaction to paracoccidioidin was observed in 1.6% of the individuals, and to histoplasmin in 37.8%. Cross-reactivity between the two antigens in persons who reacted positively to both skin tests was not totally reciprocal. There were no significant differences in dermal reactivity to either of the two antigens in either sex, or among different occupational groups. No precipitating antibody to paracoccidioidin or histoplasmin was detected in the sera of the skin test-positive individuals by the immunodiffusion test. Skin test positivity in the general population of Coari reaffirmed the concept of benign, self-limited infection in paracoccidioidomycosis and histoplasmosis. It also identified the equatorial forests of the Upper Amazon Basin as endemic zones of these two mycoses

Association of anurans with pathogenic fungi

In a study of 450 Amazonian anurans, we isolated yeasts and yeast-like fungi from 54 animals (Bufo granulosus, B. marinus, Dendrophrynyscus sp., Hyla geographica, H. lanciformes, Ololygon rubra, Adenomera hylaedactyla, Eleutherodactylus fenestratus, Leptodactylus fuscus, L. ocellatus, L. pentadactylus). The internal organs of these animals did not show any macroscopic anomaly nor histopathology. We recovered 105 fungal isolates from the anuran liver, lung, kidney, spleen, heart and gonad. The isolates were made up of 30 fungal species, 9 of which (48 isolates, 46%) were fungi with known pathogenic potentials, namely: Candida guilliermondii, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, Geotrichum candidum, Aureobasidium pullulans, Wangiella dermatitidis, Trichosporon cutaneum and Exophiala werneckii. Eleven animals harbored identical fungi in more than one of their internal organs; seven animals had more than one fungal species colonizing a single organ. Our findings indicated probable natural subclinical infections of candidiasis, geotrichosis or phaeohyphomycosis, and also symbiotic presence of non-pathogenic fungi among neotropical anurans. © 1985 Dr W. Junk Publishers

Serological analysis and pathogenic potentials of Wangiella dermatitidis isolated from bats

Five isolates of Wangiella dermatitidis from macroscopically asymptomatic bats were analysed by the agar-gel immunodiffusion tests and the mouse inoculation studies on virulence. No cross-reactivity among the antigens and antisera prepared from the bat and human isolates was observed. The fungus was shown to be neurotropic, of low infectivity and not implicated as a potential opportunistic pathogen. Differences in the antigenic composition and pathogenic potentials between isolates of the same fungus of different origins may reflect adaptation of the fungus in different hosts. © 1981 Dr. W. Junk B.V. Publishers

Distribution of histoplasma capsulatum in Amazonian wildlife

In a survey of 296 sylvatic animals captured from virgin forests in the north-eastern and south-western Amazon of Brazil, Histoplasma capsulatum was isolated, via the indirect hamster inoculation method, from the liver and spleen of four common opossums Didelphis marsupialis and two pacas Agouti paca. The infected animals did not show any clinical symptoms or histopathology. The known Amazonian mammalian species with natural histoplasmosis now total five, the previously reported species being the spiny rat Proechimys guyannensis, the two-toed sloth Choloepus didactylus and the nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus. © 1985 Martinus Nijhoff/Dr W. Junk Publishers

Ecology of pathogenic yeasts in Amazonian soil

In an investigation of Amazonian soil as a natural reservoir for pathogenic fungi, 1,949 soil samples collected from diverse geographical and ecological settings of the Brazilian Amazon Basin were analyzed for the presence of non-keratinophilic fungi by the indirect mouse inoculation procedure and for the presence of keratinophilic fungi by the hair bait technique. All soil samples were acidic with low pH values. From 12% of the soil samples, 241 yeast and yeastlike isolates pertaining to six genera and 82 species were recovered, of which 63% were Torulopsis and 26% were Candida species. Nine fungi with known pathogenic potentials were encountered among 43% (104) of the isolates: T. glabrata, C. guillermondii, C. albicans, C. pseudotropicalis, C. stellatoidea, C. tropicalis, Rhodotorula rubra, and Wangiella dermatitidis. The yeast flora was marked by species diversity, low fequency of each species, random geographical distribution, and an apparent lack of species clustering. The composition and distribution of the yeast flora in soil differed from those of the yeast flora harbored by bats, suggesting that the Amazonian external environment and internal bat organs act as independent natural habitats for yeasts