ABSTRACT
Abstract Mucorales comprises fungi commonly isolated as saprobes from soil, dung, stored grains and plants. Although these fungi have been studied in several countries, there are relatively a few reports of them in semi-arid areas. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to assess and compare the Mucorales communities in dung from different species and breeds of herbivores in the semi-arid of Pernambuco, based on the frequency of occurrence and species richness of these fungi. Samples of dung collected in the cities of Arcoverde, Serra Talhada and Sertânia were incubated in moist chambers in triplicate. Altogether, 24 taxa of Mucorales distributed in the genera Absidia, Circinella, Cunninghamella, Lichtheimia, Mucor, Pilobolus, Rhizopus and Syncephalastrum were identified. The highest species richness was found in sheep excrement. Mucor circinelloides f. griseo-cyanus was the most common taxon, followed by M. ramosissimus. The similarity of the composition of Mucorales species was greatest between the excrements of Guzerá and Sindi breeds (bovine). All mucoralean species isolated are being cited for the first time from animal dung found in Caatinga and a new species of Mucor was recorded. An identification key for species of Mucorales from dung in the semi-arid region of Brazil is provided.
Subject(s)
Animals , Environmental Microbiology , Mucorales , Brazil , Cattle , Sheep , Cluster Analysis , Biodiversity , Herbivory , Mucorales/classificationABSTRACT
Mucormycosis, a fatal opportunistic infection in immunocompromised hosts, is caused by fungi belonging to the order Mucorales. Early diagnosis based on exact identification and multidisciplinary treatments is critical. However, identification of Mucorales fungi is difficult and often delayed, resulting in poor prognosis. This study aimed to compare the results of phenotypic and molecular identification of 12 Mucorales isolates collected from 4-yr-accumulated data. All isolates were identified on the basis of phenotypic characteristics such as growth rate, colony morphology, and reproductive structures. PCR and direct sequencing were performed to target internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and/or D1/D2 regions. Target DNA sequencing identified five Lichtheimia isolates, two Rhizopus microsporus isolates, two Rhizomucor pusillus isolates, one Cunninghamella bertholletiae isolate, one Mucor fragilis isolate, and one Syncephalastrum racemosum isolate. Five of the 12 (41.7%) isolates were incorrectly identified on the basis of phenotypic identification. DNA sequencing showed that of these five isolates, two were Lichtheimia isolates, one was Mucor isolate, one was Rhizomucor isolate, and one was Rhizopus microspores. All the isolates were identified at the species level by ITS and/or D1/D2 analyses. Phenotypic differentiation and identification of Mucorales is difficult because different Mucorales share similar morphology. Our results indicate that the molecular methods employed in this study are valuable for identifying Mucorales.
Subject(s)
Humans , Genotype , Mucorales/classification , Mucormycosis/microbiology , Mycological Typing Techniques , PhenotypeABSTRACT
El subphylum Mucoromycotina es un grupo de hongos ubicuos, saprobios, caracterizados por la presencia de hifas cenocíticas. También se caracterizan por presentar una fase sexual con la formación de una zigospora. Los mucormycetes son capaces de infectar plantas, animales y seres humanos. Recientemente, varios estudios han comunicado de la creciente incidencia de mucormicosis en pacientes inmunocomprometidos e inmunocompetentes. Dados los avances en biología molecular, la sistemática de este grupo de hongos ha experimentado varios cambios taxonómicos en los últimos años. Este artículo discutirá los principales cambios taxonómicos, en especial de los géneros y especies de interés clínico.
The subphylum Mucoromycotina is a group of fungi with several ubiquitous, and saprotrophic species which are characterized by the presence of coenocytic hyphae. Also have a sexual phase characterized by the formation of zygospores. The mucormycetes are able to infect plants, animals and humans. Recently, several studies have reported the increasing incidence of mucormycosis in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. Given the advances in molecular biology, the systematic of this group of fungi has experimented several taxonomical changes. This paper will discuss the major taxonomic changes, particularly of those genera and species of clinical interest.
Subject(s)
Aerosols , Fungi , Mycoses , Mucorales/classification , Mucorales/pathogenicity , Mucormycosis/epidemiology , Mucormycosis/etiologyABSTRACT
Se presenta el caso clínico de una paciente de 61 años, con diabetes mellitus moderadamente descompensada, sin cetoacidosis, inmunocompetente, con mucormicosis invasiva de evolución crónica, con buena respuesta al tratamiento quirúrgico y con antimicóticos, que incluyó en una primera etapa fluconazol y, posteriormente, anfotericina B. Se destaca la evolución indolente de la enfemedad y se discute la probable utilidad de los agentes azólicos. Se realiza una revisión bibliográfica de la sinusitis fúngica invasiva por Mucorales.
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Middle Aged , Nose Diseases/microbiology , Mucormycosis/therapy , Sinusitis/microbiology , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Diabetes Mellitus/complications , Nose Diseases/diagnosis , Nose Diseases/drug therapy , Mucorales/classification , Mucorales/pathogenicity , Mucormycosis/diagnosis , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
The fatty acid profiles of several fungi of the order Mucorales (Zygomycetes), including "Backusella lamprospora" (Lendner) Benny and R. K. Benj., "Benjamiella youngii" P.M. Kirk, "Circinella simplex" van Tieghem, "Cunninghamella blakesleeana" Lendner, "Mortierella ramanniana" (Möller) Linnem., "Mucor circineloides" f. "janssenii" (Lendner) Schipper, "Mycotypha microspora"Fenner, "Rhizomucor miehei" (Cooney and R. Emerson) Schipper and "Rhizomucor pusillus"(Lindt) Schipper, and of "Volutella"sp. Fr., from the class Ascomycetes, were qualitatively analysed by gas-liquid chromatography in order to determine the taxonomic value of these chemotaxonomic markers. The fatty acids present in all strains were palmitic (16:0), oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2) and kappa-linoleic (18:3) acid, with the exception that the later was not found in "Volutella" sp. Chemotaxonomic markers for some species and genera were obtained, including a non-identified fatty acid, FAME8 (minimum and maximum of 16.53 and 16.61 minutes) for "Benjaminiella youngii CCT4121. Thechemotaxonomic marker of the order Mucorales was the fatty acid 18:3ômega6, confirming previous data from literature. The results of the present study that qualitative fatty acid analysis can be an important chemotaxonomic tool for the classification of the fungi assigned to the order Mucorales (Zygomycetes).
Subject(s)
Mucorales/classification , Fatty Acids/analysis , Chromatography, Gas , Chromatography, Liquid , BiomarkersABSTRACT
A zigomicose é uma antes considerada rara, com tendência a aumentar, devido às condições de imunocomprometimento, em especial com o advento da Aids. Os autores apresentam revisão da literatura sobre as apresentações cutâneas e mucosas da doença. Tanto as manifestações tegumentares como bucais apresentam grande variabilidade nas lesões fundamentais. Para o diagnóstico são considerados o quadro clínico, os fatores predisponentes, a pesquisa fúngica e o exame histopatológico.
Subject(s)
Male , Female , Zygomycosis/etiology , Zygomycosis/physiopathology , Zygomycosis/transmission , AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections , Fungi , Mucorales/classification , Mucorales/pathogenicity , Mucorales/virologyABSTRACT
La mucormicosis, es una infección fúngica poco frecuente causada por hongos del orden de los Mucorales. Estos hongos se hallan distribuídos en la naturaleza, y se los puede encontrar en el suelo, frutas, pan y el aire, incluyendo las salas hoaspitalarias. El hombre presenta, por lo general, una resistencia natural a las enfermedades considerándose, por ello, población de riesgo a todo paciente no inmunocompetente. Clásicamente, presenta cuatro formas clínicas: rinocerebral (asociada a cetoacidosis diabética), pulmonar (más frecuente en discrasias sanguíneas), cutáneas (secundaria a politraumatismos o grandes quemados) y diseminada. Se presenta un caso de mucormicosis rinocerebral en un paciente diabético no insulinodependiente y fuera de cetoacidosis, ambos hechos inusuales de acuerdo con la literatura médica consultada. Se realiza una revisión y actualización del tema