Eggs of tegu lizard, Salvator merianae (Duméril & Bilbron, 1839) (Squamata; Teiidae) damaged by fungal infections / Ovos de lagarto tegu, Salvator merianae (Duméril e Bilbron, 1839) (Squamata; Teiidae) danificados por infecções fúngicas

Abstract The tegu (Salvator merianae) is the largest lizard found in Brazil and has a wide distribution, occurring in several biomes. The presence of fungi on reptilian eggs initially occurs on infertile eggs, which leads to a subsequent infection in fertile eggs, causing damage and death of embryos. The objective of this study was to identify the fungi that caused lesions in the eggs of tegu in captivity. Swabs were collected on infected and healthy eggshells, in an embryo that died and the substrate of the incubation box. Samples were submitted to saboraund dextrose agar. A total of 93.3% of positive samples were obtained for the fungi Fusarium (11/14), Trichoderma (1/15), Penicilium (1/15), Mucor (1/15), and yeasts of the genus Trichosporon. Therefore, Fusarium was the main agent that caused the lesion and death of embryos in the eggs of the tegu lizard. Sanitary control methods may be taken to avoid fungal infections in the eggs.

Resumo O teiú (Salvator merianae) é o maior lagarto encontrado no Brasil e possui ampla distribuição, sendo encontrado em vários biomas. A presença de fungos em ovos de répteis ocorre inicialmente em ovos inférteis, o que leva à uma infecção posterior em ovos férteis, gerando danos e morte dos embriões. O objetivo deste estudo foi o de identificar os fungos geradores de lesões em ovos de teiú em cativeiro. Foram coletados suabes na casca de ovos infectados e sadios, além de um embrião que veio a óbito, e do substrato presente na caixa de incubação. As amostras foram submetidas ao cultivo em ágar Saboraund dextrose. Um total de 93,3% de amostras foram positivas para os fungos Fusarium (11/15), Trichoderma (1/15), Penicillium (1/15), Mucor (1/15) e leveduras do gênero Trichosporon (3/15). Logo, Fusarium foi o principal agente causador das lesões e morte de embriões nos ovos do lagarto teiú. Métodos de controle sanitário podem ser adotados para evitar infecção fúngicas nos ovos.

Eggs of tegu lizard, Salvator merianae (Duméril & Bilbron, 1839) (Squamata; Teiidae) damaged by fungal infections.

The tegu (Salvator merianae) is the largest lizard found in Brazil and has a wide distribution, occurring in several biomes. The presence of fungi on reptilian eggs initially occurs on infertile eggs, which leads to a subsequent infection in fertile eggs, causing damage and death of embryos. The objective of this study was to identify the fungi that caused lesions in the eggs of tegu in captivity. Swabs were collected on infected and healthy eggshells, in an embryo that died and the substrate of the incubation box. Samples were submitted to saboraund dextrose agar. A total of 93.3% of positive samples were obtained for the fungi Fusarium (11/14), Trichoderma (1/15), Penicilium (1/15), Mucor (1/15), and yeasts of the genus Trichosporon. Therefore, Fusarium was the main agent that caused the lesion and death of embryos in the eggs of the tegu lizard. Sanitary control methods may be taken to avoid fungal infections in the eggs.

Eggs of tegu lizard, Salvator merianae (Duméril & Bilbron, 1839) (Squamata; Teiidae) damaged by fungal infections

Abstract The tegu (Salvator merianae) is the largest lizard found in Brazil and has a wide distribution, occurring in several biomes. The presence of fungi on reptilian eggs initially occurs on infertile eggs, which leads to a subsequent infection in fertile eggs, causing damage and death of embryos. The objective of this study was to identify the fungi that caused lesions in the eggs of tegu in captivity. Swabs were collected on infected and healthy eggshells, in an embryo that died and the substrate of the incubation box. Samples were submitted to saboraund dextrose agar. A total of 93.3% of positive samples were obtained for the fungi Fusarium (11/14), Trichoderma (1/15), Penicilium (1/15), Mucor (1/15), and yeasts of the genus Trichosporon. Therefore, Fusarium was the main agent that caused the lesion and death of embryos in the eggs of the tegu lizard. Sanitary control methods may be taken to avoid fungal infections in the eggs.

Resumo O teiú (Salvator merianae) é o maior lagarto encontrado no Brasil e possui ampla distribuição, sendo encontrado em vários biomas. A presença de fungos em ovos de répteis ocorre inicialmente em ovos inférteis, o que leva à uma infecção posterior em ovos férteis, gerando danos e morte dos embriões. O objetivo deste estudo foi o de identificar os fungos geradores de lesões em ovos de teiú em cativeiro. Foram coletados suabes na casca de ovos infectados e sadios, além de um embrião que veio a óbito, e do substrato presente na caixa de incubação. As amostras foram submetidas ao cultivo em ágar Saboraund dextrose. Um total de 93,3% de amostras foram positivas para os fungos Fusarium (11/15), Trichoderma (1/15), Penicillium (1/15), Mucor (1/15) e leveduras do gênero Trichosporon (3/15). Logo, Fusarium foi o principal agente causador das lesões e morte de embriões nos ovos do lagarto teiú. Métodos de controle sanitário podem ser adotados para evitar infecção fúngicas nos ovos.

Antifungal susceptibility patterns of yeasts and filamentous fungi isolated from nail infection.

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis is the nail infection caused by a wide spectrum of fungi species, including yeasts, dermatophytes and filamentous fungi non-dermatophytes (FFND). This fungal infection represents an important medical problem because it involves the patient's life quality. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to isolate and identify the fungal agents of onychomycosis, and to determine the in vitro susceptibility to antifungal agents. METHODS: During the period of March 2008 to March 2009, 114 patients clinically suspected of having onychomycosis were examined. Demographic data, mainly age and gender were obtained from each patient. The nail samples collected (136) were submitted to direct examination with potassium hydroxide 20% and grown on Sabouraud dextrose agar. The in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing was performed according to the method of broth microdilution, recommended by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). RESULTS: Onychomycosis was observed in 95 (83.3%) patients, including 16 men (16.8%) and 79 women (83.2%), with mean age of 48.1 years. Candida parapsilosis, Trichophyton rubrum and Fusarium spp were the fungi most frequently isolated. The most of the isolated yeasts showed susceptibility to antifungal agents studied. Among filamentous fungi, high MIC values to itraconazole were found for T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes, while Fusarium spp showed decreased susceptibility to itraconazole and voriconazole. CONCLUSION: C. parapsilosis was the most common fungal species isolated from patients with onychomycosis. The different response obtained by in vitro susceptibility testing to drugs shows the importance of these methods to assist clinicians in choosing the best therapeutic option.

Molecular typing and antifungal susceptibility of clinical and environmental Cryptococcus neoformans species complex isolates in Goiania, Brazil.

A total of 124 Cryptococcus isolates, including 84 clinical strains obtained from cerebrospinal fluid from AIDS patients and 40 environmental isolates from pigeon excreta and from Eucalyptus trees, were studied. The varieties, serotypes, phospholipase activity and molecular profile of these isolates were determined. Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii serotype A was identified in 120 isolates and Cryptococcus gattii serotype B in four isolates. The clinical isolates showed higher phospholipase activity than environmental isolates. Similar patterns of in vitro susceptibility to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole and no resistance were found for all isolates. Molecular type VNI (C. neoformans var. grubii) was recovered in 80 clinical and 40 environmental isolates while the type VGIII (C. gattii) was found in four clinical isolates. This study demonstrated for the first time the molecular types of clinical and environmental Cryptococcus isolates in the midwest Brazil region.

Epidemiological and mycological data of onychomycosis in Goiania, Brazil.

Onychomycosis defined as fungal infection of the nail represents more than 50% of all onychopathies. Epidemiological studies have shown that this mycosis is worldwide in occurrence, but with geographical variation in distribution. The direct microscopy and culture of the nail samples were performed to identify the causative agent. Out of 2273 patients with nail infection examined between January 2000 and December 2004 in Goiania, state of Goias, Brazil, diagnosis of onychomycosis was confirmed in 1282 cases, with dermatophytes and Candida species being the most common aetiological agents isolated. Dermatophyte onychomycosis was more common in toenails than in fingernails, while onychomycosis caused by yeast had a similar frequency in both toenails and fingernails. Among the species identified, Candida albicans was responsible for 492 cases (38.4%) of onychomycosis, Trichophyton rubrum was found in 327 cases (25.6%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes in 258 cases (20.1%). Other fungi isolated from nail infections included Aspergillus sp., Trichosporon sp., Geotrichum sp. and Fusarium sp. In our study, yeast of the genus Candida were the dominant cause of onychomycosis in women and dermatophytes were the principal cause of this condition in men.

Antifungal activity of Ocimum gratissimum towards dermatophytes.

The development of more effective and less toxic antifungal agents is required for the treatment of dermatophytosis. Plants and their preparations have been used as medicines against infectious diseases. Extracts of Ocimum gratissimum leaves were investigated for in vitro antifungal activity, using agar dilution technique against dermatophytes. The extracts (hexane, chloroform fractions, the essential oil and eugenol) produced antifungal activities against Microsporum canis, M. gypseum, Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes. Trichophyton rubrum, the most common aetiological agent of dermatophytosis in Goiânia, state of Goiás, Brazil, was also the most susceptible dermatophyte. The hexane fraction and eugenol were the most active. Hexane fraction inhibited the growth of 100% of dermatophytes at a concentration of 125 microg ml(-1), while eugenol inhibited the growth of 80% of dermatophytes at this same concentration. These results show that extracts of O. gratissimum are active in vitro against human pathogenic dermatophytes.