Subject(s)
Axilla/pathology , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Fibroadenoma/diagnosis , Kidney Transplantation , Adult , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Breast Neoplasms/surgery , Cyclosporine , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Fibroadenoma/pathology , Fibroadenoma/surgery , Humans , Immunocompromised Host , Immunosuppressive AgentsABSTRACT
We studied the extent to which wild nine-banded armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus, produce immune humoral responses specifically directed against characteristic Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigens. Such antibody production might reflect direct contact with the ecological microniche of P. brasiliensis, or might merely reflect inhalation of widely distributed airborne propagules. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was designed containing purified glycoprotein gp43 and gp70 antigens from P. brasiliensis as well as cross-reactive antisera originally targeted against human IgM (mu chain) and armadillo anti-IgG (gamma-chain). It was used to detect and classify IgM and IgG antibodies to P. brasiliensis in the armadillo. In a serological survey of 47 wild armadillos, IgM antibodies to gp43 were detected in seven animals (14.8%), and IgG antibodies were detected in 20 (42.5%). IgM antibodies to gp70 were detected in 10 (21.3%) animals and IgG antibodies were detected in 18 (38.3%). These results, showing a pattern consistent with infection, suggest that P. brasiliensis is enzootic in armadillos. How the animals became exposed could not be determined.
Subject(s)
Animals, Wild/microbiology , Armadillos/microbiology , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Immunoglobulin M/blood , Paracoccidioides/immunology , Paracoccidioidomycosis/veterinary , Animals , Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Antigens, Fungal/immunology , Female , Fungal Proteins/immunology , Glycoproteins/immunology , Male , Paracoccidioidomycosis/epidemiology , Paracoccidioidomycosis/immunology , Paracoccidioidomycosis/microbiology , Rabbits , Seroepidemiologic StudiesABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Dermatomycoses/microbiology , Mitosporic Fungi/growth & development , Adult , Aged , Brazil , Female , Foot Dermatoses/microbiology , Hand Dermatoses/microbiology , Histocytochemistry , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nails/microbiologyABSTRACT
Fusarium species are common soil saprophytes and plant pathogens that have been frequently reported as etiologic agents of opportunistic infections in humans. We report eight cases of onychomycosis caused by Fusarium solani (4) and Fusarium oxysporum (4) in São Paulo, Brazil. These species were isolated from toenails in all cases. The infections were initially considered to be caused by dermatophytes. The clinical appearance of the affected toenails was leukonychia or distal subungual hyperkeratosis with yellowish brown coloration. The eight cases reported here suggest that Fusarium spp. should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of tinea unguium.
Subject(s)
Fusarium/growth & development , Onychomycosis/microbiology , Adult , Aged , Brazil , Child , Female , Foot Dermatoses/microbiology , Fusarium/isolation & purification , Histocytochemistry , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A serological study was performed in 122 individuals: 75 leprosy patients and 47 healthy controls. The ELISA test was performed for IgG and IgM using the glycolipid PGL-I antigen from Mycobacterium leprae. Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were isolated by PEG 6000 precipitation method and after dissociation with an acid solution, the IgG and IgM specific against PGL-I were tested with the ELISA test. The multibacillary patients had high levels of antibodies, compared with paucibacillary patients and controls. The antibodies isolated from the CIC presented a similar spectrum spectral distribution as the serology. A positive correlation between the levels of free and CIC bound antibodies was observed. In contrast with tuberculosis patients, specific antibodies present in CIC were not responsible for false-negative results found in some multibacillary patients' serology, since no or very low levels of specific antibodies were found in PEG precipitated serum of these patients. No relation was observed with specific antibody levels detected in CIC during leprosy reactions.
Subject(s)
Antigen-Antibody Complex/blood , Antigens, Bacterial/blood , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Glycolipids/analysis , Leprosy/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Antibodies, Monoclonal/analysis , Antibody Specificity , Female , Humans , Leprosy/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Reference Values , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
The authors studied 70 leprosy patients and 20 normal individuals, comparing the traditional sera collection method and the finger prick blood with the conservation on filter paper for specific antibodies against the native phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I) from Mycobacterium leprae. The finger prick blood dried on filter paper was eluated in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) containing 0.5% gelatin. The classical method for native PGL-I was performed for these eluates, and compared with the antibody determination for sera. It was observed that there is a straight correlation comparing these two methods; although the titles found for the eluates were lower than those obtained for serology. This blood collection method could be useful for investigation of new leprosy cases in field, specially in contacts individuals.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Antigens, Bacterial/immunology , Blood Specimen Collection/methods , Glycolipids/blood , Leprosy/immunology , Mycobacterium leprae/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Antigens, Bacterial/blood , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Leprosy/blood , Linear Models , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Sporotrichosis is a mycotic disease caused by cutaneous inoculation of the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. The primary lesion can spread and often develop a unilateral lymphocutaneous lesions or, rarely, disseminated disease. We report a lymphangitic sporotrichosis case with ulcerated erythematous nodules distributed bilaterally on the posterior and medical aspect of the both legs, probably due to multiple inoculations. The treatment with oral potassium iodide was satisfactory.
Subject(s)
Leg Dermatoses/diagnosis , Lymphangitis/diagnosis , Sporotrichosis/diagnosis , Administration, Oral , Aged , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Humans , Leg , Leg Dermatoses/drug therapy , Lymphangitis/drug therapy , Male , Potassium Iodide/therapeutic use , Sporothrix/isolation & purification , Sporotrichosis/drug therapyABSTRACT
We describe two patients who underwent cardiac transplantation for chronic cardiomyopathy of Chagas' disease, and in whom the disease was reactivated with the development of cutaneous lesions. In both cases, the skin lesions regressed completely after 2 months of therapy with allopurinol.
Subject(s)
Allopurinol/therapeutic use , Antiparasitic Agents , Chagas Disease/drug therapy , Heart Transplantation , Trypanocidal Agents/therapeutic use , Adult , Chagas Cardiomyopathy/surgery , Chagas Disease/pathology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Recurrence , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/pathologyABSTRACT
Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic fungal infection caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The authors present a case of a 49-year-old man who developed verrucous lesions on nasal mucosa and on genital localization (inguinal and scrotal), without signs of systemic disease. Direct mycological examination, culture on Sabouraud glucose medium, and biopsy were positive for P. brasiliensis. The interest of this case is the genital localization which is uncommon in this infection. Moreover, there are few cases described in the literature.
