Commentary: is it really M. leprae?

The authors studied 66 wild nine-banded armadillos from Brazil. the ear samples were collected and Ziehl-Neelsen or Fite-Faraco stains were performed, as well as immunostaining using polyclonal BCG antibody, to avaluate the presence of the Mycobacterium leprae. the AFB were not detected by the Ziehl-Neelsen or Fite-Faraco staining, neither immunoexpression of the BCG marker. However, many normal structures from the ears of the nine-banded armadillos, such as condrocytes, condroblasts, fibroblasts and endothelial cells, and Gram positive bacteria cocci, showed false positive reaction by the BCG marker. the authors discuss the use of the immunohistochemical studies with the polyclonal BCG antibody to identify M. leprae antigens in wild armadillos.Fed Univ Espirito Santo, Dept Social Med, Infect Dis Unit, Vitoria, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Dermatol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Dermatol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Lymphoscintigraphic analysis in chromoblastomycosis

Background One of the main complications of chromoblastomycosis is lymphedema. the purpose of this study was to evaluate the lymphatic system of the limbs of patients with chromoblastomycosis using lymphoscintigraphy. It is a reliable, objective and noninvasive means of supporting the diagnosis of lymphedema.Methods Lymphoscintigraphy was performed in seven patients with chromoblastomycosis, six with lesions in the lower limb and one in the upper limb. Tc-99 m dextran was injected into the interdigital spaces of the upper or lower extremities. the qualitative parameters analyzed were the visibilization of the lymph vessels and the lymph nodes, dermal backflow, and existence of collateral vessels. All patients were treated with the association of itraconazole and cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen.Results Three out of the 14 extremities examined had lymphedema clinically, and the lymphoscintigraphy showed abnormalities in the qualitative parameters; whereas these parameters were normal in the extremities without lymphedema. During the treatment of chromoblastomycosis, a second lymphoscintigraphy exam was performed on 10 limbs and did not show any improvement of the previous lymphoscintigraphic alterations.Conclusions the qualitative lymphoscintigraphy was a reliable method to show the morphology of the lymph vessels and confirm objectively the diagnosis of lymphedema secondary to chromoblastomycosis. the association of oral itraconazol and cryotherapy did not modify the lymphatic alterations in chromoblastomycosis.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Dermatol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Nucl Med, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Dermatol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Nucl Med, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Mycetoma caused by Fusarium solani with osteolytic lesions on the hand: case report

Eumycetoma is a mycotic disease caused by saprophytic soil fungi that are usually inoculated through minor injuries. A case of mycetoma in a Brazilian farmer aged 71 years is reported. This patient presented erythema and edema on the dorsal Surface of the left hand with multiple crusted and cicatricial lesions. No macroscopic grains were observed. the histopathological findings showed grains consisted of numerous hyphae which stained well with Gomori-Grocott method. This material obtained by cutaneous biopsy was submitted to culture on Sabouraud's medium and the colonies were identified as Fusarium solani. the radioloyical studies revealed bone osteolytic lesions and the ultrasound showed pseudocysts and fistulae at the site of this infection. the patient was treated with oral ketoconazole with a good clinical response.UNIFESP, EPM, Dept Dermatol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, EPM, Dept Cellular Biol, São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, EPM, Dept Imaging Diag, São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, EPM, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, EPM, Dept Dermatol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, EPM, Dept Cellular Biol, São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, EPM, Dept Imaging Diag, São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, EPM, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Dermatomycoses caused by Nattrassia mangiferae in São Paulo, Brazil

Nattrassia mangiferae formerly known as Hendersonula toruloidea, is a phaeoid coelomycete described by Nattrass in 1933. We report five cases of N. mangiferae infections in São Paulo, Brazil. This fungus was isolated from interdigital lesions on the feet in one patient, toenails in three cases and fingernails in the other one. the infections were initially considered to be caused by a dermatophyte. Although there are only a few cases described in the medical literature, the five cases reported suggest that N. mangiferae should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of tinea pedis infections.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Disciplina Biol Celular, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilAsociac Chilena Seguridad, Santiago, ChileUniv Chile, Fac Med, ICBM, Santiago 7, ChileUNIFESP, EPM, Dept Dermatol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Austral Chile, IMC, Valdivia, ChileUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Disciplina Biol Celular, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, EPM, Dept Dermatol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc