Chrysosporium guarroi sp. nov. a new emerging pathogen of pet green iguanas (Iguana iguana).

Chrysosporium guarroi sp. nov. represented by five strains isolated from cases of dermatomycosis in pet green iguanas (Iguana iguana) in Spain, is described and illustrated. This taxon is characterized by its ability to grow at temperatures from 15 to 37 degrees C and by the presence of arthroconidia and aleurioconidia. The latter are unicellular, smooth, pyriform or clavate, sessile or borne at the ends of narrow stalks. The analysis of the sequences of the D1/D2 and ITS regions confirm the separation of this new species from others of the genus Chrysosporium.

Isolation and characterization of a new fungal species, Chrysosporium ophiodiicola, from a mycotic granuloma of a black rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta).

Isolation and characterization of the new species Chrysosporium ophiodiicola from a mycotic granuloma of a black rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta) are reported. Analysis of the sequences of different fragments of the ribosomal genes demonstrated that this species belongs to the Onygenales and that this species is genetically different from other morphologically similar species of Chrysosporium. This new species is unique in having both narrow and cylindrical-to-slightly clavate conidia and a strong, pungent odor.

Fine needle aspiration of pulmonary adiaspiromycosis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary adiaspiromycosis is a common disease of many species of wild rodents and occasionally of humans, caused by the inhalation of spores of the fungus Chrysosporium parvum var crescens (Emmonsia crescens). CASE: A 74-year-old female with pulmonary adiaspiromycosis was diagnosed by radiologically guided lung fine needle aspiration (FNA). The specimen showed intracellular and extracellular 100-300 microm conidia with a distinct thick, trilaminar wall, which was positive for Gomori-methenamine silver and periodic acid-Schiff stain. The background consisted of a granulomatous process. CONCLUSION: FNA is an effective method of diagnosing pulmonary adiaspiromycosis, and pathologists need to be aware of the characteristic features of this unusual opportunistic fungal infection.

[Halo- and psychrotolerant Geomyces fungi from arctic cryopegs and marine deposits].

Comparative characterization of Geomyces isolates was performed. The isolates were obtained from Arctic cryopegs and the surrounding ancient marine deposits, from nonsaline permafrost soils, and from temperate environments. Microbiological (cultural and morphological) and molecular criteria were used to confirm the identification of the isolates as Geomyces pannorum. The isolates from cryopegs and surrounding marine deposits were shown to differ from those obtained from nonsaline soils and temperate environments in their ability to grow at negative temperatures (-2 degrees C) under increased salt concentration (10%). The results are discussed in relation to the possible inheritance of the adaptive characteristics acquired in specific environments.

Contribuiçäo ao diagnóstico morfológico da adiaspiromicose pulmonar / Contribution to morphologic diagnosis of pulmonary adiaspiromycosis

Adiaspiromicose é usualmente diagnosticada em tecido pulmonar corado por hematoxilina-eosina, ácido periódico Schiff e prata-metenamina. Os autores descrevem a morfologia do fungo corado pelo mucicarmim, picro-sírius e vermelho Congo, inclusive à luz polarizada. Tratando-se de diagnósticos duvidosos, essas técnicas poderiam facilitar na diferenciaçäo entre Emmonsia parva var crescens e outros agentes

Chrysosporium tropicum as a probable cause of mycosis of poultry in India.

Chrysosporium tropicum was isolated from comb lesions in two different breeds of chickens in India and subcultures were shown to be pathogenic when inoculated onto prepared skin of guinea pigs. This report provides additional evidence to consider Ch. tropicum as a pathogenic fungus and a probable cause of a dermatomycosis in chickens.

Fulminant disseminated pulmonary adiaspiromycosis in humans.

A case of fulminant disseminated pulmonary adiaspiromycosis is reported. The patient, a 35-year-old black male farm worker, presented with a four-week history of generalized weakness, unproductive cough, evening fever, and a weight loss of 8 kg. He died 12 days after hospitalization of respiratory failure due to granulomatous lung disease. The clinical and radiographic findings were indistinguishable from those of miliary tuberculosis. Microscopic examination of material obtained at autopsy revealed the large fungus characteristic of adiaspiromycosis in the center of suppurative granulomas throughout the lungs. This is believed to be the first fatal case of pulmonary adiaspiromycosis reported in humans, and it may have been occupationally acquired.

Conceptos en el diagnóstico de histoplasmosis humana / Concepts in diagnosis of human histoplasmosis

La histoplasmosis tiene una evolución muy similar a la de la tuberculosis. La diferencia principal entre ambas enfermedades consiste en la menor gravedad y más frecuente recuperación, en histoplasmosis. En ambas enfermedades hay que distinguir entre simple infección, formas activas y evolutivas y los casos recuperados y curados clínicamente; esta situación de cura; con secuelas, es mucho más frecuente en histoplasmosis, que en tuberculosis. El diagnóstico de actividad en histoplasmosis, es frecuentemente difícil y por esta razón el A. investiga el grado de parasitismo en los promonocitos como el más accesible medio de investigar el sistema reticuloendotelial.(AU)

Conceptos en el diagnóstico de histoplasmosis humana / Concepts in diagnosis of human histoplasmosis

La histoplasmosis tiene una evolución muy similar a la de la tuberculosis. La diferencia principal entre ambas enfermedades consiste en la menor gravedad y más frecuente recuperación, en histoplasmosis. En ambas enfermedades hay que distinguir entre simple infección, formas activas y evolutivas y los casos recuperados y curados clínicamente; esta situación de cura; con secuelas, es mucho más frecuente en histoplasmosis, que en tuberculosis. El diagnóstico de actividad en histoplasmosis, es frecuentemente difícil y por esta razón el A. investiga el grado de parasitismo en los promonocitos como el más accesible medio de investigar el sistema reticuloendotelial.

Adiaspiromycosis.

We have then a disease that, for many years (since 1942), was known only to infect lower animals; after a sporadic encapsulated adiaspore was observed by Doby-Dubois in 1964 in a patient's lung, a widely disseminated, clinically symptomatic case was reported from Czechoslovakia, rapidly followed by three mildly disseminated cases, one from Russia and two from Guatemala, with innumerable granulomas similar to the patient of Kodousek et al. patient. Alert observers contributed descriptions of single adiaspores in arrested granulomas of the lung. The finding of presumed adiaspores in the lumen of an appendix seems unique. The reaction to the adiaspores is a tubercular granuloma, with fibroblast, (few) epithelioid, and giant cells representing the main component of the tissue response. Most observers agree on the absence of necrosis--one reason why the lesions do not calcify. The natural history of the disease seems to be self-limited, even if the extent of the involvement of the lung parenchyma determines the gravity of symptoms. The sudden flurry of reports makes it likely that cases previously had been mistaken for C. immitis or infestation by parasites.

[Different behavior of 22 strains of Emmonsia Cifferi and Montemartini 1959, a monilial fungus, in the lungs of laboratory mice in comparison with their parasitic morphology in vitro]. / Differents comportements de 22 souches d'Emmonsia Cifferi et Montemartini, 1959, champignon moniliace, dans les poumons de souris de laboratoire, comparaison avec leur morphologie parasitaire in vitro.

The 22 strains of Emmonsia Ciferri & Montemartini 1959, inoculated intranasally to laboratory mice are not equally virulent. One month after the inoculation, 15 of the strains had produced adiaspores 120 t9 190 micrometer in diameter in the lung. Another strain produced adiaspores measuring 44 micrometer and 2 others measuring 20 micrometer or 10 micrometer. The remaining 4 strains did not develop in the lung tissue. Four thermophilic strains, which in vitro have adiaspores measuring 8 to 15 micrometer, had adiaspores reaching 120-180 micrometer in vivo. Neither budding nor endosporulation could be observed in any adiaspore.

Mutants of Emmonsia crescens--their pathogenicity and size of adiaspores in vivo.

The pathogenicity of seven morphological mutants of Emmonsia crescens was tested by means of intraperitoneal inoculation in mice. All mutants caused adiaspiromycosis. Adiaspores were isolated from granulomas after 2 months and their diameters were determined. Adiaspores from granulomas caused by five mutants (M-5, M-6, M-8, M-9 and M-16) were significantly smaller than adiaspores from granulomas caused by the wild strain, from which the mutants were derived. Two mutants (M-6 and M-9) produced adiaspores of the smallest diameter (130.5 and 119.9 mum) with the lowest variance of values, differing thus most from the original wild strain with adiaspores of 230.4 mum in diameter. A positive correlation was found between the size of the adiaspore in vivo and growth rate of the mycelial stage of Emmonsia crescens in vitro. The mutation characterized by the decreased growth rate of the mycelial stage is phenotypically manifested in the adiasporic stage of the life cycle of Emmonsia crescens, i.e. by the smaller average size of adiaspores in granulomas.

[Comparison of growth and morphological differentiation of 22 strains of Emmonsia Ciferri et Montemartini, 1959, agent of adiasporomycosis, in different temperatures]. / Croissance et différenciation morphologique comparées à diverses températures de vingt deux souches d'Emmonsia Ciferri et Montemartini, 1959, agent de l'adiaspiromycose

The comparative study of the responses of 22 strains of Emmonsia to different temperatures between 5 degrees and 40 degrees C allowed us to confirm the existence of thermophilic and non-thermophilic strains. 11 strains composed a very homogeneous non-thermophilic group: their growth, maximal at 20-25 degress C was almost completely inhibited above 30 degrees and they produced characteristic adiaspores at 35 degrees. The remaining 11 strains composed a thermophilic group: their growth was maximal at 25 degrees except for 57 (30-35 degrees), the growth of U.A.M.H. 139 was inhibited at 35 degrees, the others were inhibited at 40 degrees except for three which still continued to develop slowly. Microscopically they produced more or less degenerate chlamydospores at 40 degrees and few adiaspores.

[In vitro formation of adiospores in 10 strains of Emmonsia cresens, the fungal agent of adiospiromycosis]. / Facteurs influençant la formation in vitro d'adiaspores chez 10 souches d'Emmonsia crescens, champignon agent de l'adiaspiromycose

Emmonsia crescens Emmons and Jellison 1960 is a dimorphic fungus responsible for pulmonary mycoses in animals and man. Temperature was the essential factor influencing the development of the parasitic phase : the adiaspores, which formed better at 37 degrees than at 40 degrees. Certain media (medium with blood, with egg, Sabouraud...) also favoured the growth of adiaspores. The amount of CO2 in the ambiant atmosphere had no effect on the formation of adiaspore phase. On the other hand, the liquid medium Sabouraud was not suitable for certain strains wich were not able to develop adiaspores in semianaerobic media neither at 37 degrees nor at 40 degrees.