Effect of steroid hormones on the in vitro antifungal activity of itraconazole on Fonsecaea pedrosoi

The in vitro antifungal activity of itraconazole, combined with oestradiol, testosterone or progesterone, on the growth of Fonsecaea pedrosoi was evaluated.   Fonsecaea pedrosoi was cultured in Sabouraud supplemented with dimethyl sulphoxide dilutions in β-oestradiol (0.04 μg/mL and 0.04 mg/mL), progesterone (0.06 μg/mL and 0.06 mg/mL) or testosterone (1.2 μg/mL and 1.2 mg/mL) combined with 0.01 to 1 μg/mL of itraconazole. The sex steroid hormones did not modify the growth pattern of F. pedrosoi when they were in the presence itraconazole. The absence of synergistic or antagonistic activity of oestradiol, progesterone, testosterone and itraconazole on the growth of F. pedrosoi observed in this work does not rule out in vivo factors related to the development of the disease and to the success of an antifungal treatment.A atividade antifúngica in vitro de itraconazol, combinada com estradiol, testosterona ou progesterona no crescimento de Fonsecaea pedrosoi foi avaliada.  F. pedrosoi foi cultivado em Sabouraud suplementado com β-estradiol (0,04 μg/mL e 0,04 mg/mL), progesterona (0,06 μg/mL e 0,06 mg/mL) ou testosterona (1,2 μg/mL e 1,2 mg/mL) combinados com itraconazol diluído em dimetilsulfóxido na faixa de concentração entre 0,01 e 1 μg/mL. Os hormônios esteróides sexuais não modificaram a inibição de F. pedrosoi pelo itraconazol. A ausência da atividade de sinergismo ou antagonismo de estradiol, progesterona, testosterona e itraconazol no crescimento de F. pedrosoi observada neste trabalho não exclui fatores in vivo relacionados ao desenvolvimento da doença e para o sucesso de um tratamento antifúngico

Secreção de cinco enzimas extracelulares por amostras de agentes da cromoblastomicose

The gelatinase, urease, lipase, phospholipase and DNase activities of 11 chromoblastomycosis agents constituted by strains of Fonsecaea pedrosoi, F. compacta, Phialophora verrucosa, Cladosporium carrionii, Cladophialophora bantiana and Exophiala jeanselmei were analyzed and compared. All strains presented urease, gelatinase and lipase activity. Phospholipase activity was detected only on five of six strains of F. pedrosoi. DNase activity was not detected on the strains studied. Our results indicate that only phospholipase production, induced by egg yolk substrate, was useful for the differentiation of the taxonomically related species studied, based on their enzymatic profile.As atividades gelatinase, urease, lipase, fosfolipase e DNase de 11 agentes da cromoblastomicose constituídos por amostras de Fonsecaea pedrosoi, F. compacta, Phialophora verrucosa, Cladosporium carrionii, Cladophialophora bantiana e Exophiala jeanselmei foram analisadas e comparadas. Todas as amostras apresentaram atividade urease, gelatinase e lipase. A atividade fosfolipase foi detectada apenas em cinco das seis amostras de F. pedrosoi. A atividade DNase não foi detectada nas amostras estudadas. Os resultados indicam que para a diferenciação entre espécies taxonomicamente relacionadas estudadas, baseado no seu perfil enzimático, apenas a produção de fosfolipase, induzida pelo substrato com gema de ovo, foi útil

Differentiation and prediction of the in vitro antifungal activity of Brazilian propolis against Fonsecaea pedrosoi using chemometrics and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier Transform spectroscopy

The in vitro antifungal activity of ethanolic extracts of propolis was evaluated at five different concentrations in twelve Fonsecaea pedrosoi strains using agar dilution. Eight propolis extracts were collected from towns located in the central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier Transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) was employed to analyze the spectra of lyophilized propolis extracts. The use of chemometric tools allowed for the development of models with more relevant factors and with fewer variables. Partial least squares (PLS) regression was applied, allowing for the development of PLS-DRIFTS models to predict antifungal activity of all fungal strains with root mean square error of cross validation (RMSECV) lower to 5.00 mm2 and coefficient correlation of cross-validation (R2) upper to 0.99 with five to eight latent variables at 4000-2400 and 2200-600 cm-1. Concluding, DRIFTS models associated with chemometrics are powerful screening tools of propolis samples with fungistatic properties against Fonsecaea pedrosoi

Fasciola hepatica: identificação in situ de antígenos

The aim of the present study was to assess excretory-secretory antigens and somatic antigens of Fasciola hepatica, specific antibodies, and to identify reactive sites in histological sections of adult parasites by means of immunohistochemistry. The immune response was observed through the intense reaction of cells that surround the ventral sucker of Fasciola hepatica. Immunohistochemistry is a sensitive and easy-to-use method for detecting antigenic sites in histological sections of this parasite.O presente estudo objetivou avaliar antígenos excretórios/secretórios (Ag E/S) e somáticos (Ag S) de Fasciola hepatica, anticorpos específicos e demonstrar a presença de sítios reativos em corte histológico do parasito adulto pela técnica de imunoistoquímica. A resposta imune foi observada pela reação intensa nas células que circundam a ventosa ventral do parasito. A técnica de imunoistoquímica é sensível e de fácil execução na detecção de sítios antigênicos em cortes histológicos de Fasciola hepatica

Clinical-epidemiological characteristics of Sporotrichosis cases in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: a 16-year study

Background: Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous fungal infection that occurs worldwide, although its highest incidence is in tropical and subtropical areas. In Brazil, it is an hyperendemic disease that affects animals and humans. Objective: To report cases of sporotrichosis in a dermatology referral service, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Methods: Retrospective, observational, descriptive study, from 2003 to 2019. Data were selected from patients who had skin lesions suggestive of sporotrichosis, and who had positive direct and/or cultural mycological examinations of Sporothrix spp.. Clinical records were reviewed in charts. Results: 61 cases of sporotrichosis were identified, with an annual average of 4 cases. There was a predominance of males (54.1%; n=33) and white skin color (77.0%; n=47). The mean age was 45.9 years (standard deviation = 21.2), with the predominant age group between 25 and 60 years (41.0%; n=25). The sample consisted mainly of patients residing in the interior of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (47.5%; n=29). Conclusions: This study contributes with updates on the epidemiological situation of sporotrichosis in the state of Rio Grande do Sul

The use of 2-[2’-hydroxy-5’-aminophenyl]benzoxazole (HAMBO), a new fluorochrome for the morphological analysis of Fonsecaea pedrosoi ATCC 46428 using a microculture technique

Fluorochromes have been employed in fungi for many reasons, including the evaluation of cell feasibility, growth, physiological monitoring during stress, antifungal resistance and diagnosis of infections in clinical specimens. This study evaluated the incorporation of 2-[2’-hydroxy-5’-aminophenyl]benzoxazole (HAMBO) into the vegetative and reproductive mycelia of Fonsecaea pedrosoi. Fonsecaea pedrosoi (strain ATCC 46428) was incubated for 15 days on a microculture of potato dextrose agar containing HAMBO. Slides with fungal growth were analyzed using epifluorescence microscopy. The fluorochrome impregnated the surface of the cellular material. The detailed external definition of the microstructure allowed for the differentiation of hyphae and conidia and for the detection of changes in fluorochrome deposition and membrane thickness in the cellular elements investigated. HAMBO has intrinsic fluorescence, lack of functional groups susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis, and slow photofading, which make it suitable for microscopic analysis when it is necessary to expose material to UV light for a long period.Fluorocromos tem sido empregados em fungos para a avaliação da viabilidade celular, crescimento, acompanhamento durante o estresse fisiológico, resistência a antifúngicos, diagnóstico de infecção em amostras clínicas, entre outros. Este estudo avaliou a incorporação de 2-[2’-hidroxi-5’-aminofenil]benzoxazol (HAMBO) no micélio vegetativo e reprodutivo de Fonsecaea pedrosoi. Cepa de F. pedrosoi ATCC 46428 foi incubada em microcultivo em agar batata dextrose contendo (HAMBO) por 15 dias. As lâminas com o crescimento fúngico foram observadas em microscopia de epifluorescência. O fluorocromo impregnou na superfície do material celular. A definição detalhada da microestrutura externa permitiu a diferenciação de hifas e conídios e a detecção de alterações na deposição do fluorocromo e na espessura da membrana nos elementos celulares investigados. A fluorescência intrínseca do HAMBO, a ausência de grupos funcionais suscetíveis à hidrólise enzimática e o desvanecimento lento, o tornam adequado para a análise microscópica quando é necessária longa exposição do material à luz UV

SIXTEEN YEARS OF DERMATOMYCOSIS CAUSED BY Candida spp. IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF PORTO ALEGRE, SOUTHERN BRAZIL

The yeasts of the genus Candida infect skin, nails, and mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal and the genitourinary tract. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dermatomycoses caused by Candida spp., and their etiological aspects in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, Brazil. A retrospective study with data obtained from tertiary hospital patients, from 1996 to 2011, was performed. The analyzed parameters were date, age, gender, ethnicity, anatomical region of lesions, and the direct examination results. For all the statistical analyses, a = 0.05 was considered. Among positive results in the direct mycological examination, 12.5% of the total of 4,815 cases were positive for Candida spp. The angular coefficient (B) was -0.7%/ year, showing a decrease over the years. The genus Candida was more prevalent in women (15.9% of women versus 5.84% of men), and in addition, women were older than men (54 versus 47 years old, respectively). There was no difference between ethnic groups. The nails were more affected than the skin, with 80.37% of the infections in the nails (72.9% in fingernails and 7.47% in toenails). Our study corroborates the literature regarding the preference for gender, age, and place of injury. Moreover, we found a decrease in infection over the studied period

Atypical presentation of secondary syphilis: annular lesions in an elderly patient

Syphilis is a chronic bacterial sexually transmitted infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum. Different age groups are affected by heterogeneous clinical forms of the disease. We report a case of atypical secondary syphilis in an elderly patient with diffuse annular erythematous lesions on the chest, back, upper and lower limbs diagnosed by histopathological, immunohistochemical and serological tests

Isolated cutaneous lesions in paracoccidioidomycosis: a suggestive case of acquisition through cutaneous inoculation

Not applicabl