Anti-Aspergillus fumigatus IgG in patients with bronchiectasis and its relationship with clinical outcome

Aspergillosis is a mycosis, most commonly afecting the airways. This mycosis can worsen the clinical condition of patients with concurrent lung diseases. We assayed for the presence of serum anti-A. fumigatus IgG in bronchiectasis patients from a tertiary hospital in south Brazil and evaluated the relationship with clinical outcome. Thirty-one patients with bronchiec tasis, without cystic fbrosis, were included. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected from all participants. Positive serological tests were detected in 13% (4/31) of the patients. The mortality rate for the year following the assay was, in the seropositive group, 75% (3/4), whereas in the seronegative group, 15% (4/27). An illustrative case is also shown and discussed. Our study highlights the diagnostic challenge and the possible impact of Aspergillus infection on these patients, indicating the necessity of more and larger investigations in the feldinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

<i>Sporothrix brasiliensis</i>: Epidemiology, Therapy, and Recent Developments

Sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis is an emergent mycosis that is now a worldwide concern. One important step to sporotrichosis control is its correct treatment. However, limitations abound; thus, new antifungals, mainly focused on S. brasiliensis, are urgently needed. We performed a systematic review (following the PRISMA guideline) focused on (1) the global distribution of human and animal sporotrichosis by S. brasiliensis, especially outside of Brazil; (2) appraising therapies tested against this pathogen. We identified sporotrichosis caused by S. brasiliensis reported in five countries (Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, the United Kingdom, and the United States) in addition to Brazil, occurring on three continents, highlighting the epidemiological scenario in Argentina with an important increase in reported cases in recent years. Regarding the antifungal activity of drugs, 25 articles described the in vitro action of 20 unique chemicals and eight repurposed drugs against S. brasiliensis. Only five studies reported in vivo activity against S. brasiliensis (five drugs) using invertebrate and vertebrate models. Sporotrichosis caused by S. brasiliensis has a global impact and it is no longer specifically a Brazilian problem. We review the need for understanding the disease epidemiology, education of clinicians and of the populace, organization of health care delivery to respond to a spreading epidemic, and research on therapy for sporotrichosis

Aspergilose pulmonar crónica: os desafios para o diagnóstico e aplicabilidade de ferramentas auxiliares - relato de caso

Abstract publicado em: Braz J Infect Dis. 2021 Jan;25(S1):101078. doi:10.1016/j.bjid.2020.101446.Introdução: Estima‐se que anualmente 3 milhões de pessoas em todo o mundo desenvolvam aspergilose pulmonar crônica (CPA), no entanto, seu diagnóstico é desafiador. Objetivo: Relatar o caso de um paciente com repetidos isolamentos de A. fumigatus em amostras respiratórias desde 2013, e diagnóstico de CPA confirmado somente em 2019. Metodologia: Homem, 73 anos, diagnóstico de HIV em 2000 (desde 2010 supressão virológica), ex‐usuário de drogas, tabaco e álcool (abstêmio desde 2008), timoma em 2002, com ressecção cirúrgica. Em 2006 e 2009, apresentou infecção por Mycobacterium avium. Desde 2010, em uso de corticóide inalatório e β2‐agonista para DPOC, infecções respiratórias de repetição e deterioração progressiva de parênquima pulmonar em exames de imagem. Realizadas cerca de 10 investigações para micobacteriose, após tratamento, todas negativas. Em 2013 e 2015, A. fumigatus foi isolado de escarro e LBA, respectivamente. Interpretado como colonização, não houve tratamento antifúngico em ambas ocasiões. Em 2018, A. fumigatus foi novamente isolado de escarro, sendo realizada investigação sorológica, que permitiu o diagnóstico por detecção de anticorpos (IDGA ‐ IMMY®; e ELISA IgG Aspergillus Bio‐Rad®) e antígeno (LFA Aspergillus GM, IMMY®). Paciente não tolerou a terapia com anfo B, recebendo itraconazol (ITC) (200 mg; 12/12 h). Após 6 meses de tratamento, teve melhora clínica e estabilização do quadro radiológico; e IDGA negativou, sendo indicada manutenção do ITC por mais 6 meses. A análise genotípica pela técnica de microssatélites (alto poder discriminatório: 0,9968), comprovou que três isolados de A. fumigatus obtidos em diferentes momentos eram a mesma estirpe. Discussão/Conclusão: O diagnóstico da CPA é um desafio pela dificuldade em interpretar o isolamento de A. fumigatus de amostra respiratória, podendo ser contaminação, colonização ou, de fato, uma infecção ativa. Nosso caso ilustra este contexto, no qual esse diagnóstico foi considerado somente após diversos isolamentos fúngicos. O fato de tratar‐se de mesma cepa fúngica isolada nos diferentes anos, sugere a associação deste agente com a deterioração progressiva do parênquima pulmonar; ou ainda uma colonização prévia que culminou com progressão para doença ativa após danos por outras etiologias e/ou uso de corticóide. Em ambos os casos, cabe ressaltar a importância de investigar um paciente com comprometimento pulmonar crônico cujas amostras respiratórias resultem em isolamento de A. fumigatus.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Activity of Diphenyl diselenide against Aspergillus isolates

Organoselenium compounds have been showing promising antimicrobial activity against bacteria and some fungal species. Among these compounds, diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2 is a simple and chemically stable molecule with proven low toxicity to animal hosts. Although the mechanisms of action of this molecule are not totally clear, it has been reported that it has a prooxidative activity for microorganisms, due to glutathione depletion. Given the emergence of azole resistance Aspergillus sp. isolates is a global and rising concern, research towards new molecules with antifungal potential are necessary. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility of Aspergillus spp. clinical isolates to (PhSe)2.The authors are grateful to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES), grant number 001; PDSE and PRINTCAPES FURG Program; and to the organization of the AAAM2020 for the scholarship to the first author.N/

Aspergillosis in free-ranging Magellanic penguins

We evaluated the mortality due to aspergillosis in free-ranging Magellanic penguins during their migration and the reproductive season. A total of 98 carcasses of penguins were collected along 370 km of coastline in Southern Brazil, between June 2017 and October 2019, and from reproductive colonies in Patagonian Argentina, in January 2019. All animals were necropsied, and only proven cases were computed. Aspergillosis was diagnosed in 2.5% of the penguins evaluated during their migration route. Our study, of the Southern coast of Brazil, is the first to demonstrate that aspergillosis is an important cause of mortality in free-ranging penguins. The implications of these findings in the One Health context are discussedLay Summary Lay Summary: We evaluated the mortality due to aspergillosis in free-ranging Magellanic penguins during their migration and the reproductive season. The mortality rate of penguins was 2.5% during their migration route. Our study is the first to demonstrate aspergillosis as an important cause of mortality in free-ranging penguins.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Supe- rior (CAPES), Grant number 001info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio