FILAMENTOUS FUNGI ISOLATED FROM THE FUR MICROBIOTA OF CALLITRICHIDS KEPT IN CAPTIVITY IN BRAZIL.

This study aimed to isolate filamentous fungi from the fur of primates of the genus Callithrix kept in the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wild Animals (CRWA) at the Tietê Ecological Park, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Samples of the fur of 19 specimens of black-tufted marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) and 6 specimens of white-tufted-ear marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) were obtained by the square carpet technique. The samples were plated on Mycosel™ agar medium (Difco™) and incubated at 25°C for 21 days. The identification of each isolated mold was based on its macroscopic and microscopic features and followed classical recommendations. The following filamentous fungi were isolated: Penicillium spp. (76%), Cladosporium spp. (60%), Acremonium spp. (44%), Scopulariopsis spp. (24%), Aspergillus spp. (16%), Chrysosporium spp. (16%), and Fusarium spp. (8%). Dermatophyte fungi were not detected. We conclude that C. penicillata and C. jacchus kept in captivity are sources of potentially pathogenic filamentous fungi that may represent a risk factor for immunocompromised individuals who may eventually establish contact with them.

Yeasts of the genital region of patients attending the dermatology service at Hospital São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The knowledge of the diversity of yeasts that make up the skin microbiota of human beings is essential for the efficient monitoring of infections to which a person may be predisposed. AIMS: This study identified yeasts comprising the genital skin microbiota of patients attending the Dermatology Service at the Hospital São Paulo-UNIFESP, Brazil. METHODS: Samples were collected from the genital region of each patient and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Individual colonies were carefully transferred to tubes daily. Yeasts were identified based on classical methodologies and confirmed using a commercial kit. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients were included in the study. Approximately 80% were women and 20% were men. The average age was 55 years. Hypertension, diabetes, kidney transplant and AIDS were the main underlying diseases reported by the patients. The most prevalent yeasts were Candida parapsilosis (36.1%), Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (9.2%), Rhodotorula glutinis (8.3%), Candida tropicalis (5.5%) and Trichosporon inkin (1.8%). Approximately 78% of the isolates were obtained in pure cultures. Trichosporon inkin was isolated only from women, in contrast to literature describing a high prevalence in males. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that Candida albicans is not the main yeast found on genital skin as previously thought, and opportunistic pathogens such as C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, Rhodotorula spp. and T. inkin make up the genital skin microbiota, representing a risk for infection in immunocompromised subjects. These results also indicate that women are carriers of T. inkin, the etiological agent of white piedra and trichosporonosis.

Effects of temperature and incubation time on the in vitro expression of proteases, phospholipases, lipases and DNases by different species of Trichosporon.

Fungi produce a broad spectrum of enzymes capable of degrading different substrates in nature. When the substrate is the tissue of a vertebrate host, these enzymes acts as a fungal virulence factor that increases the pathogenicity of the fungus. Trichosporon yeasts are emerging pathogens that infect immunocompromised patients. Little is known about the virulence characteristics of these fungi. The aim of this research was to characterize the behavior of protease, phospholipase, lipase and DNase production in different species of Trichosporon, with a focus on the influence of incubation temperature on the expression of these enzymes. Classical methodologies were used in all of the experiments, and the results were statistically analyzed. The proportions of the samples that produced each type of enzyme were as follows: lipases (95.5%), phospholipases (56.8%), proteases (50,0%) and DNases (38.6%). The incubation temperature was an important factor in the expression of enzymatic activity, and it influenced the incubation period of each species. Although these data concerning the enzymatic activity expressed by isolates of Trichosporon are valuable, further research is warranted to completely characterize this new pathogen, as well as in vivo studies to determine the roles of these enzymes in the pathogenesis of trichosporonosis.

Trichosporon inkin: an uncommon agent of scalp white piedra. Report of four cases in Brazilian children.

We report four cases of scalp white piedra (SWP) in Brazilian female children. Morphological and physiological approaches gave inconsistent results for identifying Trichosporon to species level, while the sequencing of the intergenic spacer 1 region of ribosomal DNA accurately identified the agent of SWP as T. inkin. These cases emphasize the occurrence of this species causing this type of infection. The molecular identification of the suspected agent is needed for appropriate epidemiological surveillance of superficial mycoses caused by Trichosporon species.

Ethidium bromide-induced demyelination in the sciatic nerve of diabetic rats / Desmielinização induzida pelo brometo de etídio no nervo ciático de ratos diabéticos

This study aims to observe the process of myelin loss and repair following the injection of the gliotoxic agent ethidium bromide (EB) in the sciatic nerve of rats previously induced to diabetes mellitus by streptozotocin. Injection of EB was also done in non-diabetic rats. The animals were euthanatized from 3 to 31 days after intraneural injection and nerve sections were collected for ultrastructural study. In non-diabetic rats, Schwann cells (CS) showed signs of intoxication 3 days after, with cytoplasmic vacuolization and rejection of their myelin sheaths. Myelin debris were removed by macrophages in the endoneurium and mast cells were abundant in the lesions. From 14 days following EB injection, supernumerary CS were seen in the expanded endoneurium as well as thin myelin sheaths indicating remyelination. Diabetic rats presented a more extensive myelin vesiculation and segmentar demyelination, with delayed activities from both macrophages and remyelinating SC. No mast cells were noted.

O estudo visa à observação do processo de perda e reparo mielínico pós-injeção do gliotóxico brometo de etídio (BE) no nervo ciático de ratos previamente induzidos a diabetes mellitus pela estreptozotocina. Injeção de BE foi igualmente realizada em ratos não-diabéticos. Os animais foram eutanasiados dos 3 aos 31 dias pós-injeção intraneural, com colheita de amostras neurais para estudo ultra-estrutural. Nos animais não-diabéticos, as células de Schwann (CS) mostraram sinais de intoxicação a partir dos 3 dias pós-gliotóxico, com vacuolização citoplasmática e rejeição de suas bainhas de mielina. Restos mielínicos eram removidos por macrófagos no interior do endoneuro e mastócitos eram abundantes nas lesões. A partir dos 14 dias, CS supranumerárias foram encontradas no endoneuro expandido, além de finas bainhas de mielina indicativas de remielinização. Os ratos diabéticos apresentaram vesiculação mielínica e desmielinização segmentar mais extensas, bem como ausência de mastócitos e atraso na atividade macrofágica e na função remielinizante das CS.

Ethidium bromide-induced demyelination in the sciatic nerve of diabetic rats.

This study aims to observe the process of myelin loss and repair following the injection of the gliotoxic agent ethidium bromide (EB) in the sciatic nerve of rats previously induced to diabetes mellitus by streptozotocin. Injection of EB was also done in non-diabetic rats. The animals were euthanatized from 3 to 31 days after intraneural injection and nerve sections were collected for ultrastructural study. In non-diabetic rats, Schwann cells (CS) showed signs of intoxication 3 days after, with cytoplasmic vacuolization and rejection of their myelin sheaths. Myelin debris were removed by macrophages in the endoneurium and mast cells were abundant in the lesions. From 14 days following EB injection, supernumerary CS were seen in the expanded endoneurium as well as thin myelin sheaths indicating remyelination. Diabetic rats presented a more extensive myelin vesiculation and segmentar demyelination, with delayed activities from both macrophages and remyelinating SC. No mast cells were noted.

Expectativa de vida e causas de morte em cães na área metropolitana de São Paulo (Brasil) / Life expectation and causes of death in dogs in the metropolitan area of São Paulo (Brazil)

Com o objetivo de avaliar a expectativa de vida dos cães na área metropolitana de São Paulo e as causas relacionadas com a morte destes, foram analisados dados correspondentes a 2.011 animais provenientes de um hospital veterinário universitário, de clínicas particulares, de canis e de proprietários particulares. A idade mediana de sobrevivência dos animais foi de 36 meses. Os animais de porte médio, grande e gigante tiveram maior longevidade que os cães de porte pequeno. As fêmeas viveram mais que os machos e os animais castrados viveram mais que os não-castrados. Não houve diferença na expectativa de vida entre os animais de raça pura e os animais sem raça definida. Constatou-se que as causas mais importantes de mortalidade foram, em ordem decrescente de ocorrência, as doenças infecciosas, as neoplasias e os traumas. Pode-se concluir que a expectativa de vida dos cães foi menor que a observada na literatura internacional e que as doenças infecciosas constituem a principal causa de óbito.

In order to evaluate the canine life expectation in the metropolitan area of São Paulo, as well as the causes of death of these animals, data related to 2,011 dogs attended at a University Veterinary Hospital or collected from veterinary clinics, kennels and private owners were analyzed. It was observed that the median age of the dogs at death due to all causes was 36 months old. Dogs of medium, large and giant breeds had longer longevity than the small ones. Female and neutered dogs lived longer than male and intact dogs. There was no difference in life expectation related to the fact that the animal was from a pure breed or not. The most important causes of mortality were, in decrescent order of occurrence, infeccious diseases, neoplasms and traumatic injuries. Canine life expectation found in this survey was shorter than that observed in other countries and infeccious diseases constitute the major cause of death.

Isolation of Microsporum gypseum from the haircoat of health wild felids kept in captivity in Brazil

Os dermatófitos são os fungos mais comumente associados às micoses superficiais em animais e homem. O estado de portador assintomático do gato doméstico o caracteriza como importante fonte de infecção, entretanto, até então, tal aspecto não foi pesquisado em relação a seus parentes selvagens. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi determinar a presença de dermatófitos no pelame de felídeos selvagens sadios, mantidos em cativeiro na Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo. A amostragem foi constituída de 130 animais adultos de ambos os sexos, sendo 25 leões (Panthera leo), 12 tigres (Panthera tigris), 6 onças-pintadas (Panthera onca), 4 leopardos (Panthera pardus), 2 leopardos-das-neves (Panthera uncia), 2 suçuaranas (Puma concolor), 2 guepardos (Acinonyx jubatus), 1 jaguatirica (Leopardus pardalis), 28 gatos-do-mato-pequenos (Leopardus tigrinus), 10 gatos-maracajás (Leopardus wiedii), 8 gatos-do-mato-grandes (Leopardus geoffroyi), 22 gatos-mouriscos (Herpaylurus yaguaroundii) e 8 gatos-palheiros (Oncifelis colocolo). As amostras foram obtidas a partir da fricção de quadrados de carpete estéreis no pelame dos animais. Os carpetes foram então semeados em placas de Petri contendo ágar Mycobiotic (Difco®) e incubadas a 25ºC por 4 semanas. As colônias obtidas foram repicadas em tubos contendo ágar Sabouraud dextrose com cloranfenicol (100mg/L) e submetidas a microcultivo em lâmina, para posterior identificação através de suas características macro e microscópicas. Microsporum gypseum foi isolado de duas leoas (1,6 por cento) aparentemente saudáveis, ambas mantidas em terrários. Os contaminantes mais prevalentes foram dos gêneros Penicillium (27,9 por cento); Cladosporium (24,5 por cento); Acremonium (12,1 por cento); Scopulariopsis e Chrysosporium (9,8 por cento); e Aspergillus (5,3 por cento). A ocorrência de dermatófitos no pelame de felídeos selvagens sadios, mantidos em cativeiro, confirma seu estado de portador assintomático e os caracteriza como fontes de infecção par...