Host-driven subspeciation in the hedgehog fungus, Trichophyton erinacei, an emerging cause of human dermatophytosis.

Trichophyton erinacei is a main cause of dermatophytosis in hedgehogs and is increasingly reported from human infections worldwide. This pathogen was originally described in the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) but is also frequently found in the African four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), a popular pet animal worldwide. Little is known about the taxonomy and population genetics of this pathogen despite its increasing importance in clinical practice. Notably, whether there are different populations or even cryptic species associated with different hosts or geographic regions is not known. To answer these questions, we collected 161 isolates, performed phylogenetic and population-genetic analyses, determined mating-type, and characterised morphology and physiology. Multigene phylogeny and microsatellite analysis supported T. erinacei as a monophyletic species, in contrast to highly incongruent single-gene phylogenies. Two main subpopulations, one specific mainly to Atelerix and second to Erinaceus hosts, were identified inside T. erinacei, and slight differences in the size of microconidia and antifungal susceptibilities were observed among them. Although the process of speciation into two lineages is ongoing in T. erinacei, there is still gene flow between these populations. Thus, we present T. erinacei as a single species, with notable intraspecies variability in genotype and phenotype. The data from wild hedgehogs indicated that sexual reproduction in T. erinacei and de novo infection of hedgehogs from soil are probably rare events and that clonal horizontal spread strongly dominates. The molecular typing approach used in this study represents a suitable tool for further epidemiological surveillance of this emerging pathogen in both animals and humans. The results of this study also highlighted the need to use a multigene phylogeny ideally in combination with other independent molecular markers to understand the species boundaries of dermatophytes. Citation: Cmoková A, Kolarík M, Guillot J, et al. 2022. Host-driven subspeciation in the hedgehog fungus, Trichophyton erinacei, an emerging cause of human dermatophytosis. Persoonia 48: 203-218. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2022.48.06.

[Use of perfluothane as a component of neurorehabilitation therapy in the acute period in patients with craniocerebral injuries]. / Primenenie perftorana v sostave neiroreabilitatsionnoi terapii ostrogo perioda u bol'nykh s cherepno-mozgovoi travmoi.

The effects of perfluothane on the course of posttraumatic period are evaluated in patients with craniocerebral injuries. Forty patients were divided into 2 groups treated and not with perfluothane. Hemodynamics, hemostasis, gaseous exchange and lung ventilation functions, and neurological status were evaluated over the course of treatment. The data evidence a favorable effect of perfluothane on the course of the posttraumatic period in patients with craniocerebral injuries.

Dermatophytoses in Prague, Czech Republic, between 1987 and 1998.

Over a 12-year period, from 1987 to 1998, the spectrum of aetiological agents isolated from 11208 patients (6265 females and 4943 males) suspected of having dermatomycosis was analysed in the mycological laboratory of the Department of Dermatology, Charles University, Prague. The most frequently examined locations were toenails (34.9%), feet (15.6%), fingernails (12.8%), toe webs (11%), trunk (10%) and hands (8.7%). Dermatophytes were isolated from 5605 (30.2%) of all 18528 samples examined. Among dermatophytes, the most common infectious agent was Trichophyton rubrum (90.2%) followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (6.6%), Microsporum canis (1.8%) and Epidermophyton floccosum (1.4%). Trichophyton verrucosum, Microsporum persicolor and Microsporum gypseum were rare. During this 12-year period the pattern of aetiological agents of dermatomycoses in Prague was relatively stable.

[Comparison of the DNA-GEN Probe PACE 2 method and the LCR method for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in the female genital tract]. / Srovnávací studie metodik DNA-GEN probe PACE 2 a LCR k prukazu Chlamydia trachomatis v zenském genitálním ústrojí.

OBJECTIVE: Comparison of two methods of so-called rapid assessment of Chlamydia trachomatis in the urogenital system, i.e. the hybridization method GEN-Probe PACE 2 and the amplification LCR (ligase chain reaction) method. In 1995-1996 the authors made a screening examination to detect Chlamydiae in the urogenital tract by means of the hybridization method GEN-Probe PACE 2 and the amplification LCR method in selected groups of patients of the Second Gynaecological and Obstetric Clinic, First Faculty Hospital, Prague. The methods were evaluated as to their sensitivity. The examinations of the samples were made in the serological laboratory of the First Dermatological Clinic of the First Faculty Hospital Charles University, Prague. The amplification method is twice as sensitive as the hybridization method.