Susceptibility of Malassezia pachydermatis to azole antifungal agents evaluated by a new broth microdilution method

Malassezia pachydermatis   is considered an opportunistic pathogen of the outer ear duct in dogs and cats. This yeast can also be found in the skin, rectum, anal sacks and vagina. Eighty-two samples of this yeast isolated from dogs with the symptoms of external otitis from the Porto Alegre region were tested for their susceptibility to antifungal agents using the Broth Microdilution Method. The testing antifungal agents were Ketoconazole, Fluconazole and Itraconazole. Experimental essays determined that Sabouraud dextrose broth supplemented with 1% Tween 80 was the most appropriate medium for culture, for a ten-fold dilutions for the inocula, and 48 hours as the interval of readings. The ranges of the Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) for the 82 samples were (a) Ketoconazole, from 0.015 to 0.25 mg/mL (mean of 0.08 mg/mL), (b) Fluconazole, from 1 to 32 mg/mL (mean of 9.22 mg/mL), and (c) Itraconazole, from 0.007 to 0.125 mg/mL (mean of 0.05 mg/mL). The isolates of M. pachydermatis showed an excellent level of susceptibility to antifungal azole agents, with all strains being susceptible to Itraconazole, and with only 2.4 % and 3.7% being resistant to Fluconazole and Kketoconazole, respectively. The use of the broth microdilution method allows the assessment of the susceptibility of large numbers of samples from M. pachydermatis isolates to the most common antifungal agents

Development of experimental sporothrichosis in a murine model with yeast and mycelial forms of Sporothrix schenkii

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous disease that affects both men and a variety of animals caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. The aims of this study were to observe differences in virulence between inocula containing the yeast (Y) or mycelial (M) forms, to compare the reactions induced by the two inocula injected in different anatomical sites, and to verify the possibility of horizontal transmission of the disease by contact between infected and healthy animals. All animals were observed during a period of nine weeks. Mice were inoculated subcutaneously in the paw pads and in the regions of the hip and shoulder joints. Another group of non-inoculated healthy mice was kept in direct contact with mice developing the subcutaneous lesions. Animals of groups Y and M developed lesions due to infections and clinical symptoms very characteristic of sporothrichosis. Lesions were more prominent and with longer duration when occurring in the pads than in any other site of inoculation. Non-inoculated mice remained healthy as it occurred to animals in the control group. The development of typical clinical symptoms for sporothrichosis in all inoculated groups suggests that no difference exists in virulence between the yeast and mycelial forms of the same isolated of S. schenckii. Moreover, the paw pads appear to be the site of choice for the inoculation for experimental sporot

Development of experimental sporothrichosis in a murine model with yeast and mycelial forms of Sporothrix schenkii

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous disease that affects both men and a variety of animals caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. The aims of this study were to observe differences in virulence between inocula containing the yeast (Y) or mycelial (M) forms, to compare the reactions induced by the two inocula injected in different anatomical sites, and to verify the possibility of horizontal transmission of the disease by contact between infected and healthy animals. All animals were observed during a period of nine weeks. Mice were inoculated subcutaneously in the paw pads and in the regions of the hip and shoulder joints. Another group of non-inoculated healthy mice was kept in direct contact with mice developing the subcutaneous lesions. Animals of groups Y and M developed lesions due to infections and clinical symptoms very characteristic of sporothrichosis. Lesions were more prominent and with longer duration when occurring in the pads than in any other site of inoculation. Non-inoculated mice remained healthy as it occurred to animals in the control group. The development of typical clinical symptoms for sporothrichosis in all inoculated groups suggests that no difference exists in virulence between the yeast and mycelial forms of the same isolated of S. schenckii. Moreover, the paw pads appear to be the site of choice for the inoculation for experimental sporot

Susceptibility of Malassezia pachydermatis to azole antifungal agents evaluated by a new broth microdilution method

Malassezia pachydermatis   is considered an opportunistic pathogen of the outer ear duct in dogs and cats. This yeast can also be found in the skin, rectum, anal sacks and vagina. Eighty-two samples of this yeast isolated from dogs with the symptoms of external otitis from the Porto Alegre region were tested for their susceptibility to antifungal agents using the Broth Microdilution Method. The testing antifungal agents were Ketoconazole, Fluconazole and Itraconazole. Experimental essays determined that Sabouraud dextrose broth supplemented with 1% Tween 80 was the most appropriate medium for culture, for a ten-fold dilutions for the inocula, and 48 hours as the interval of readings. The ranges of the Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) for the 82 samples were (a) Ketoconazole, from 0.015 to 0.25 mg/mL (mean of 0.08 mg/mL), (b) Fluconazole, from 1 to 32 mg/mL (mean of 9.22 mg/mL), and (c) Itraconazole, from 0.007 to 0.125 mg/mL (mean of 0.05 mg/mL). The isolates of M. pachydermatis showed an excellent level of susceptibility to antifungal azole agents, with all strains being susceptible to Itraconazole, and with only 2.4 % and 3.7% being resistant to Fluconazole and Kketoconazole, respectively. The use of the broth microdilution method allows the assessment of the susceptibility of large numbers of samples from M. pachydermatis isolates to the most common antifungal agents

Development of experimental sporothrichosis in a murine model with yeast and mycelial forms of Sporothrix schenkii

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous disease that affects both men and a variety of animals caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. The aims of this study were to observe differences in virulence between inocula containing the yeast (Y) or mycelial (M) forms, to compare the reactions induced by the two inocula injected in different anatomical sites, and to verify the possibility of horizontal transmission of the disease by contact between infected and healthy animals. All animals were observed during a period of nine weeks. Mice were inoculated subcutaneously in the paw pads and in the regions of the hip and shoulder joints. Another group of non-inoculated healthy mice was kept in direct contact with mice developing the subcutaneous lesions. Animals of groups Y and M developed lesions due to infections and clinical symptoms very characteristic of sporothrichosis. Lesions were more prominent and with longer duration when occurring in the pads than in any other site of inoculation. Non-inoculated mice remained healthy as it occurred to animals in the control group. The development of typical clinical symptoms for sporothrichosis in all inoculated groups suggests that no difference exists in virulence between the yeast and mycelial forms of the same isolated of S. schenckii. Moreover, the paw pads appear to be the site of choice for the inoculation for experimental sporot

Susceptibility of Malassezia pachydermatis to azole antifungal agents evaluated by a new broth microdilution method

Malassezia pachydermatis   is considered an opportunistic pathogen of the outer ear duct in dogs and cats. This yeast can also be found in the skin, rectum, anal sacks and vagina. Eighty-two samples of this yeast isolated from dogs with the symptoms of external otitis from the Porto Alegre region were tested for their susceptibility to antifungal agents using the Broth Microdilution Method. The testing antifungal agents were Ketoconazole, Fluconazole and Itraconazole. Experimental essays determined that Sabouraud dextrose broth supplemented with 1% Tween 80 was the most appropriate medium for culture, for a ten-fold dilutions for the inocula, and 48 hours as the interval of readings. The ranges of the Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) for the 82 samples were (a) Ketoconazole, from 0.015 to 0.25 mg/mL (mean of 0.08 mg/mL), (b) Fluconazole, from 1 to 32 mg/mL (mean of 9.22 mg/mL), and (c) Itraconazole, from 0.007 to 0.125 mg/mL (mean of 0.05 mg/mL). The isolates of M. pachydermatis showed an excellent level of susceptibility to antifungal azole agents, with all strains being susceptible to Itraconazole, and with only 2.4 % and 3.7% being resistant to Fluconazole and Kketoconazole, respectively. The use of the broth microdilution method allows the assessment of the susceptibility of large numbers of samples from M. pachydermatis isolates to the most common antifungal agents

Associações entre o isolamento de Candida albicans com a infecção pelo vírus da leucemia felina (FeLV), tratamentos com corticosteróides ou antimicrobianos em gatos

Candida albicans  , integrante da microbiota normal do trato intestinal de muitos mamíferos e aves, raramente é isolada da pele de animais saudáveis, contudo, alterações no sistema imune podem favorecer o seu desenvolvimento. Para verificar possíveis associações com o vírus da leucemia felina (FeLV), tratamentos com corticosteróides ou antimicrobianos e outros parâmetros, foram obtidas 150 amostras do pelame e das mucosas bucal e anal de gatos da região metropolitana de Porto Alegre, RS. Os diversos materiais foram cultivados em ágar Sabouraud suplementado com cloranfenicol. O sangue foi examinado através da imunofluorescência indireta (IFA). O único fungo isolado foi Candida albicans: 8,7% (mucosa bucal), 6,7% (pele) e 1,3% (mucosa anal). O teste IFA detectou 24,7% (37) gatos soropositivos. O teste do Qui-Quadrado indicou associações significativas entre presença de Candida albicans na pele ou na mucosa bucal e : infecção por FeLV; terapia (até 60 dias anteriores à obtenção dos materiais) com antimicrobianos ou corticosteróides; lesões na mucosa bucal; lesões na pele e, linfonodos mandibulares aumentados. Por outro lado, não houve associação entre Candida albicans na pele ou na mucosa bucal com idade, sexo, raça, habitat ou presença de diarréia. A análise de regressão logística, indicou que as chances de isolamento da mucosa bucal e da pele são , respectivamente 8,8 e 5,3 veze

Associações entre o isolamento de Candida albicans com a infecção pelo vírus da leucemia felina (FeLV), tratamentos com corticosteróides ou antimicrobianos em gatos

Candida albicans  , integrante da microbiota normal do trato intestinal de muitos mamíferos e aves, raramente é isolada da pele de animais saudáveis, contudo, alterações no sistema imune podem favorecer o seu desenvolvimento. Para verificar possíveis associações com o vírus da leucemia felina (FeLV), tratamentos com corticosteróides ou antimicrobianos e outros parâmetros, foram obtidas 150 amostras do pelame e das mucosas bucal e anal de gatos da região metropolitana de Porto Alegre, RS. Os diversos materiais foram cultivados em ágar Sabouraud suplementado com cloranfenicol. O sangue foi examinado através da imunofluorescência indireta (IFA). O único fungo isolado foi Candida albicans: 8,7% (mucosa bucal), 6,7% (pele) e 1,3% (mucosa anal). O teste IFA detectou 24,7% (37) gatos soropositivos. O teste do Qui-Quadrado indicou associações significativas entre presença de Candida albicans na pele ou na mucosa bucal e : infecção por FeLV; terapia (até 60 dias anteriores à obtenção dos materiais) com antimicrobianos ou corticosteróides; lesões na mucosa bucal; lesões na pele e, linfonodos mandibulares aumentados. Por outro lado, não houve associação entre Candida albicans na pele ou na mucosa bucal com idade, sexo, raça, habitat ou presença de diarréia. A análise de regressão logística, indicou que as chances de isolamento da mucosa bucal e da pele são , respectivamente 8,8 e 5,3 veze

Associações entre o isolamento de Candida albicans com a infecção pelo vírus da leucemia felina (FeLV), tratamentos com corticosteróides ou antimicrobianos em gatos

Candida albicans  , integrante da microbiota normal do trato intestinal de muitos mamíferos e aves, raramente é isolada da pele de animais saudáveis, contudo, alterações no sistema imune podem favorecer o seu desenvolvimento. Para verificar possíveis associações com o vírus da leucemia felina (FeLV), tratamentos com corticosteróides ou antimicrobianos e outros parâmetros, foram obtidas 150 amostras do pelame e das mucosas bucal e anal de gatos da região metropolitana de Porto Alegre, RS. Os diversos materiais foram cultivados em ágar Sabouraud suplementado com cloranfenicol. O sangue foi examinado através da imunofluorescência indireta (IFA). O único fungo isolado foi Candida albicans: 8,7% (mucosa bucal), 6,7% (pele) e 1,3% (mucosa anal). O teste IFA detectou 24,7% (37) gatos soropositivos. O teste do Qui-Quadrado indicou associações significativas entre presença de Candida albicans na pele ou na mucosa bucal e : infecção por FeLV; terapia (até 60 dias anteriores à obtenção dos materiais) com antimicrobianos ou corticosteróides; lesões na mucosa bucal; lesões na pele e, linfonodos mandibulares aumentados. Por outro lado, não houve associação entre Candida albicans na pele ou na mucosa bucal com idade, sexo, raça, habitat ou presença de diarréia. A análise de regressão logística, indicou que as chances de isolamento da mucosa bucal e da pele são , respectivamente 8,8 e 5,3 veze