Ocular lesions in a domestic feline: a closer look at the fungal pathogen Sporothrix brasiliensis / Lesões oculares em um felino doméstico: um olhar atento ao patógeno fúngico Sporothrix brasiliensis

Sporotrichosis is a dermatozoonosis, caused by dimorphic pathogenic fungi of the genus Sporothrix. Although Sporothrix brasiliensis is the most frequent and pathogenic species identified from the Brazilian sporotrichosis hyperendemic, to the best of our knowledge this is the first report of its molecular diagnosis from a cat with ocular lesions. A 3-month-old female, domestic feline presented an ocular manifestation with granuloma in the lower-left palpebral conjunctiva, in addition to mucocutaneous lesions in varied locations throughout the body. Samples were collected for subsequent cytopathology, fungal culture, serology, and molecular genotyping. Itraconazole was prescribed for the treatment of sporotrichosis and the animal was considered clinically cured at the end of 5 months of treatment and discharged. S. brasiliensis-cat interactions can manifest with a multitude of clinical forms that resemble either infectious or noninfectious diseases. Both the need for meticulous cat physical evaluation by a veterinarian followed by accurate laboratory diagnosis are key Public Health measures in the Brazilian sporotrichosis hyperendemic area.(AU)

A esporotricose é uma dermatozoonose causada por fungos patogênicos dimórficos do gênero Sporothrix. Embora o Sporothrix brasiliensis seja a espécie mais patogênica e prevalente na hiperendemia brasileira de esporotricose, segundo nosso conhecimento este é o primeiro relato de um gato com lesões oculares causadas por esta espécie, via diagnóstico molecular. Um felino doméstico com três meses de idade apresentou manifestação ocular com granuloma em conjuntiva palpebral inferior esquerda, além de lesões mucocutâneas em diferentes áreas do corpo. Amostras foram coletadas para posterior citopatologia, cultura de fungos, sorologia e genotipagem molecular. O itraconazol foi prescrito para o tratamento da esporotricose e o animal foi considerado clinicamente curado ao final de cinco meses de tratamento, recebendo alta. As interações do S. brasiliensis com o gato podem se manifestar com uma infinidade de formas clínicas que se assemelham a doenças infecciosas ou não. A necessidade de avaliação física meticulosa desses animais por um médico veterinário, seguida do diagnóstico laboratorial preciso, são medidas essenciais em saúde pública na área hiperendêmica para a esporotricose no Brasil.(AU)

Epidemiological and microbiological profile of infective keratitis in Ahmedabad.

Context: Study of patients attending tertiary care ophthalmology institute at Ahmedabad. Aims: To study the microbiological etiology and epidemiological factors associated with suppurative keratitis. Settings and Design: A total of 150 corneal scrapings were evaluated from patients presenting with corneal ulcers at a tertiary ophthalmology center, Ahmedabad from July 2007 to June 2008. Materials and Methods: Scrapings were subjected to Gram stain, potassium hydroxide preparation and culture for bacterial and fungal pathogens. Socio-demographic data and risk factors were recorded. Results: Ninety percent (135/150) people with corneal ulcers had trauma as predisposing factor for keratitis. Trauma due to wooden objects was the leading cause (46/135) followed by vegetable matter and stone injury (23/135). Microbial etiology was established in 59.3% (89/150) of scrapings. Out of 89 positive isolates, 65.1% (58/89) were bacterial while 34.9% (31/89) were fungal. Among the bacterial isolates, 60.3% (35/58) were Gram-positive cocci while 39.7% (23/58) were Gram-negative bacilli. The most common bacterial isolate was Staphylococus aureus (32.7%, 19/58) followed by coagulase-negative Staphylococci (25.8%, 15/58) and Pseudomonas (18.9%, 11/58). Among the 31 fungal pathogens, Aspergillus species was the most common (35.4%11/31), followed by Fusarium species (22.5%, 7/31). Conclusion: Trauma with wooden material is the most common predisposing factor for suppurative keratitis. Males were more affected than females. Bacterial ulcers were more common than fungal in areas in and around Ahmedabad. Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus were the commonest bacterial and fungal isolates respectively. Geographical variation persists in microbial etiology of suppurative keratitis.