RESUMEN
The presence of various pathogenic fungi in rather unsuspected hosts and environments has always attracted the attention of the scientific community. Reports on the putative role of animals in fungal infections of humans bear important consequences on public health as well as on the understanding of fungal ecology. Fungi are ubiquitous in nature and their great capacity for adaptation allows them to survive and indeed, to thrive, in plants, trees and other natural substrata. Nonetheless, we are just beginning to learn the significance that these diverse fungal habitats have on the increasing number of immunosuppressed individuals. The accidental or permanent presence of fungi in animals, plants, soils and watercourses should not be taken too lightly because they constitute the source where potential pathogens will be contracted. If those fungal habitats that carry the largest risks of exposure could be defined, if seasonal variations in the production of infectious propagules could be determined, and if their mode of transmission were to be assessed, it would be possible to develop protective measures in order to avoid human infection. Additionally, unsuspected avenues for the exploration of fungal survival strategies would be opened, thus enhancing our capacity to react properly to their advancing limits. This paper explores several ecological connections between human pathogenic fungi and certain animals, trees, waterways and degraded organic materials. The occurrence of such connections in highly endemic areas will hopefully furnish more precise clues to fungal habitats and allow the design of control programs aimed at avoiding human infection.
Asunto(s)
Microbiología Ambiental , Hongos/fisiología , Hongos/patogenicidad , Micosis/veterinaria , Animales , Armadillos/microbiología , Ecosistema , Hongos/aislamiento & purificación , Humanos , Micosis/microbiología , Micosis/transmisión , Ratas , Árboles/microbiologíaRESUMEN
We studied an experimental model of resection arthroplasty with or without tendon ball interposition in the wrist of dogs. Animals were divided into two groups. Animals in group A were treated by resection of the os carpi radiale with interposition of a ball made from the tendon of the extensor carpi radialis and the group B underwent bone resection alone. Animals were assessed 1, 6, 12 and 24 weeks after operation. In all of them the wrist joint was stable and had good mobility, allowing walking supported by the operated limb. In both groups biological material filled the cavity created by bone resection. A progressive repair process resulted in fibroplasia with areas of fibrocartilaginous metaplasia. The tendon ball showed complete ischaemic necrosis at the end of the first week, which delayed the healing process.
Asunto(s)
Artroplastia/métodos , Huesos del Carpo/cirugía , Tendones/trasplante , Animales , Huesos del Carpo/patología , Cartílago Articular/patología , Perros , Femenino , Masculino , Metaplasia , Tendones/patología , Soporte de Peso/fisiología , Cicatrización de Heridas/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, the causative agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), was first isolated from armadillos from the Amazonian region where the mycosis is uncommon. In the present study, we report on the high incidence of PCM infection in armadillos from a hyperendemic region of the disease. Four nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) were captured in the endemic area of Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil, killed by manual cervical dislocation and autopsied under sterile conditions. Fragments of lung, spleen, liver, and mesenteric lymph nodes were processed for histology, cultured on Mycosel agar at 37 degrees C, and homogenized for inoculation into the testis and peritoneum of hamsters. The animals were killed from week 6 to week 20 postinoculation and fragments of liver, lung, spleen, testis, and lymph nodes were cultured on brain heart infusion agar at 37 degrees C. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was isolated from three armadillos both by direct organ culture and from the liver, spleen, lung, and mesenteric lymph nodes of hamsters. In addition, one positive armadillo presented histologically proven PCM disease in a mesenteric lymph node. The three armadillos isolates (Pb-A1, Pb-A2, and Pb-A4) presented thermodependent dimorphism, urease activity, and casein assimilation, showed amplification of the gp43 gene, and were highly virulent in intratesticularly inoculated hamsters. The isolates expressed the gp43 glycoprotein, the immunodominant antigen of the fungus, and reacted with a pool of sera from PCM patients. Taken together, the present data confirm that armadillos are a natural reservoir of P. brasiliensis and demonstrate that the animal is a sylvan host to the fungus.
Asunto(s)
Armadillos/microbiología , Paracoccidioides/aislamiento & purificación , Paracoccidioidomicosis/veterinaria , Animales , Anticuerpos Antifúngicos/sangre , Antígenos Fúngicos/inmunología , Western Blotting/veterinaria , Brasil/epidemiología , Cricetinae , ADN de Hongos/análisis , Reservorios de Enfermedades , Femenino , Inmunodifusión/veterinaria , Hígado/microbiología , Hígado/patología , Pulmón/microbiología , Pulmón/patología , Ganglios Linfáticos/microbiología , Ganglios Linfáticos/patología , Masculino , Mesocricetus , Paracoccidioides/genética , Paracoccidioides/inmunología , Paracoccidioides/patogenicidad , Paracoccidioidomicosis/epidemiología , Paracoccidioidomicosis/parasitología , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/veterinaria , Bazo/microbiología , Bazo/patología , VirulenciaRESUMEN
We studied three different isolates of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis obtained from the mesenteric lymph node (D3LY1), the spleen (D3S1) and the liver (D3LIV1) of the same armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). Pulmonal inflammatory area was evaluated by intravenous inoculation of 10(6) yeast cells of each isolates in young, male, ddY mice. Moreover, the partial sequence of GP43kDa gene of P. brasiliensis was analyzed. The lung inflammatory area was greater in animals inoculated with isolate D3S1. The partial sequence of GP43kDa gene indicated that isolate D3S1 is different from isolates D3LY1 and D3LIV1. This study suggested that the same armadillo might be susceptible to multiple P. brasiliensis isolates simultaneously.
Asunto(s)
Antígenos Fúngicos , Armadillos/microbiología , Proteínas Fúngicas/genética , Glicoproteínas , Paracoccidioides , Microbiología del Suelo , Microbiología del Agua , Animales , Secuencia de Bases , Hígado/microbiología , Enfermedades Pulmonares Fúngicas/microbiología , Enfermedades Pulmonares Fúngicas/patología , Ganglios Linfáticos/microbiología , Masculino , Mesenterio , Ratones , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Paracoccidioides/genética , Paracoccidioides/patogenicidad , Paracoccidioidomicosis/microbiología , Paracoccidioidomicosis/patología , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Organismos Libres de Patógenos Específicos , Bazo/microbiologíaRESUMEN
We compared the antigenic characteristics of two thermo-dependent dimorphic fungi isolated from soil in Botucatu, an endemic area of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The soil isolates grew as cerebriform colonies at 37 degrees C (yeast form) and as cottonous colonies at 25 degrees C (mycelial form). No pathogenicity for ddY mice or hamsters were observed. In immunodiffusion test, there were precipitation bands between the 2 soil isolates and pooled PCM patient sera. There were also common precipitation bands at 21, 50 and 58 kDa between the soil isolates antigens and PCM patient sera by Western-blotting, but no gp43 kDa band. No gene for gp 43 kDa protein was detected in the soil isolates by PCR. The fact that these isolates were obtained from an endemic area of PCM and there were some antigenic similarities between the soil isolates and P. brasiliensis in immunodiffusion test and Western-blotting may have some importance in epidemiological surveys done with paracoccidioidin as well interfering with the immune response of the exposed population.
Asunto(s)
Antígenos Fúngicos , Paracoccidioides/inmunología , Microbiología del Suelo , Animales , Brasil , Cricetinae , Calor , Masculino , Ratones , Morfogénesis , Paracoccidioides/clasificación , Paracoccidioides/citología , Paracoccidioides/patogenicidad , Paracoccidioidomicosis/etiología , Paracoccidioidomicosis/microbiologíaRESUMEN
In an attempt to isolate Paracoccidioides brasiliensis from nature 887 samples of soil from Botucatu, SP, Brazil, were collected cultured in brain heart infusion agar supplement with dextrose, in potato dextrose agar and in yeast extract starch dextrose agar, all with antibiotics, at 25º and 37ºC. Five thermo-dependent dimorphic fungi morphologically resembling P. brasiliensis were isolated; two from armadillo holes; further studies of the biology, antigenicity and genetic features of the five dimorphic fungi are necessary to clarify their taxonomy and their possible relation to P.brasiliensis. In addition, 98 dematiaceous fungi and 581 different soecies of Aspergillus spp. were also isolated. Our findings emphasize that armadillos and their environment are associated with thermo-dimorphic fungi and confirm the ubiquity of pathogenic dematiaceous fungi and Aspergillus spp.
Asunto(s)
Paracoccidioides/aislamiento & purificación , Paracoccidioidomicosis/epidemiología , Suelo/análisisRESUMEN
In an attempt to isolate Paracoccidioides brasiliensis from nature 887 samples of soil from Botucatu, SP, Brazil, were collected cultured in brain heart infusion agar supplemented with dextrose, in potato dextrose agar and in yeast extract starch dextrose agar, all with antibiotics, at 25 degrees and 37 degrees C. Five thermo-dependent dimorphic fungi morphologically resembling P. brasiliensis were isolated; two from armadillo holes; further studies of the biology, antigenicity and genetic features of the five dimorphic fungi are necessary to clarify their taxonomy and their possible relation to P. brasiliensis. In addition, 98 dematiaceous fungi and 581 different species of Aspergillus spp. were also isolated. Our findings emphasize that armadillos and their environment are associated with thermo-dimorphic fungi and confirm the ubiquity of pathogenic dematiaceous fungi and Aspergillus spp.
Asunto(s)
Aspergillus/aislamiento & purificación , Enfermedades Endémicas , Paracoccidioides/aislamiento & purificación , Paracoccidioidomicosis/epidemiología , Animales , Brasil/epidemiología , Ecología , HumanosRESUMEN
The exoantigen of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis standardized by Camargo et al. (AgR) was used to evaluate the in vivo and in vitro cell immune response of experimental animals and of patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PBM). Fava Netto antigen (AgF) was tested in parallel as a control antigen. The study was conducted with mice and guinea pigs infected with P. brasiliensis or immunized with its fungal antigens, on patients with PBM and on their respective control groups. The cell immune response was analysed by skin tests, and by the macrophage and leucocyte migration inhibition tests (MMIT and LMIT) in the animals and in the patients, respectively. The skin test with AgR as paracoccidioidin was positive in infected or immunized mice and guinea pigs and negative in control animals. The skin tests with AgR (24 h) showed 96.7% positivity in patients with PBM and were negative in control individuals. Histopathological study of the in vivo tests in the different experimental models was consistent with a delayed hypersensitivity response (DHR). Immunohistochemical study of the skin tests of PBM patients demonstrated a predominance of T lymphocytes, confirming the nature of a DHR to the fungal antigens. The in vitro cell immune response showed variable results for the various experimental models, i.e. significant rates of MMIT in immunized mice, a tendency to positivity in infected guinea pigs, and the absence of migration inhibition in PBM patients. Taken together, the data indicate that the AgR is efficient as paracoccidioidin in the evaluation of DHR in PBM, with an optimum time of reading the test of 24 h.
Asunto(s)
Antígenos Fúngicos/inmunología , Dermatitis Alérgica por Contacto , Paracoccidioides/inmunología , Paracoccidioidomicosis/inmunología , Animales , Cobayas , Humanos , Inmunidad Celular , Linfocitos/inmunología , Macrófagos/inmunología , Masculino , Ratones , Paracoccidioidomicosis/patología , Valores de Referencia , Piel/inmunología , Pruebas CutáneasRESUMEN
We compared the granuloma morphology and immune response of hamsters inoculated with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb) into the cheek pouch, which lacks lymphatic drainage, and into the footpad, which is rich in lymphatics. Our objective was to better understand the modulation of Pb granuloma in an immunocompetent animal inoculated in an immunologically privileged site. The humoral immune response (ELISA) and cell mediated immunity (footpad test) became positive on days 7 and 14, respectively in animals inoculated into footpad and on days 35 and 60 in animals inoculated into the pouch. Typical epithelioid granulomas were observed at both sites on day 14. The number of fungi gradually decreased from the beginning of the experiment in footpad lesions, but only after day 35 in pouch granulomas, when cell mediated immunity was detectable. The results indicate that typical epithelioid paracoccidioidomycotic granulomas may develop in the absence of a detectable immune response; however, they are incapable of controlling fungal reproduction. Lack of lymphatic drainage delays the appearance of a detectable immune response, but with time fungi escape from the pouch, elicit an immune response and reach other organs. Our results further indicate the importance of the lymphatics in the pathogenesis of paracoccidioidomycosis.
Asunto(s)
Paracoccidioidomicosis/inmunología , Animales , Anticuerpos Antifúngicos/biosíntesis , Anticuerpos Antifúngicos/sangre , Antígenos Fúngicos/inmunología , Mejilla , Cricetinae , Pie , Granuloma/inmunología , Granuloma/microbiología , Granuloma/patología , Inmunidad Celular , Sistema Linfático , Masculino , Paracoccidioides/inmunología , Paracoccidioides/aislamiento & purificación , Paracoccidioides/ultraestructura , Paracoccidioidomicosis/patologíaRESUMEN
Estudou-se sequencialmente, a microscopia eletronica de transmissao, a interacao entre Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb) e celulas inflamatorias em hamsters inoculados por via intratesticular. Seis horas apos inoculacoes havia predominancia de neutrofilos, estando presentes algumas celulas mononucleares e eosinofilos. Os neutrofilos foram progressivamente substituidos por celulas mononucleares. Fungos viaveis apresentavam-se fagocitados ou circunscritos por celulas inflamatorias, geralmente com ampla interface hospedeiro-parasita. Fungos mortos ou degenerados eram acompanhados de interfase estreita. A camada externa da parede do Pb era as vezes quebrada quando em contato com neutrofilos, em varios pontos, sendo os fragmentos dessa parede descamados e fagocitados....
Asunto(s)
Animales , Masculino , Paracoccidioidomicosis/patología , Interacciones Huésped-Parásitos , Roedores/parasitología , Paracoccidioidomicosis/microbiologíaRESUMEN
Interaction between Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb) and inflammatory cells in hamster testis was studied sequentially by transmission electron microscopy. In early lesions (six hours after inoculation), polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) were the major and mononuclear cells and eosinophils were the minor constituents of the inflammatory cells. PMNs were later replaced by mononuclear cells. Viable Pb cells were phagocytosed or surrounded by inflammatory cells. Preserved Pb cells usually had broad host-parasite interphases, whereas dying ones had narrow interphases. The outer layer of the fungus wall was sometimes broken by PMN in some focal points, broken pieces being peeled off and phagocytosed. Small Pb cells were uninuclear, and were often related to broad interphase. Large Pb cells were multinucleated with irregularly shaped wall, and sometimes had lomasome and/or myelin like structures. Different interaction patterns of Pb with inflammatory cells may be due to functionally different host cell flow to the inoculation site or due to the age of Pb cells or both.
Asunto(s)
Paracoccidioides/ultraestructura , Paracoccidioidomicosis/parasitología , Animales , Cricetinae , Interacciones Huésped-Parásitos , Masculino , Microscopía Electrónica , Paracoccidioidomicosis/inmunología , Testículo/parasitologíaRESUMEN
Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder is a neoplasm with variability in its clinical behavior. Although there are several studies correlating stage and ABO isoantigen expression with invasiveness, there is no single predictor factor to assess the potential invasiveness, especially in the low grade, non-invasive TCC. In the present study we evaluated the correlation of histological grade plus stage and the expression of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG), in 100 cases of TCC, with the clinical behavior. These features were correlated with tumor progression in patients with at least two years of follow up. We observed more aggressiveness in G4 group (high grade and invasive) (93% had tumor progression) when compared to G1 group (low grade and superficial) (11% had tumor progression). However in 25.5% of the TCC cases (groups G2: low grade and invasive and G3: high grade and superficial) the clinical behavior was intermediate, showing some limitation in using grading and staging only, as a predictive factor. There was an expression of beta-hCG in 21.4% of the cases in up to 25% of the tumor cells without any trophoblastic morphology. These beta-hCG producing TCC had a strong correlation with aggressiveness: 39.1% and 12.8% of the TCC expressed beta-hCG with and without tumor progression, respectively.
Asunto(s)
Carcinoma de Células Transicionales/química , Gonadotropina Coriónica/análisis , Neoplasias de la Vejiga Urinaria/química , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Carcinoma de Células Transicionales/patología , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Inmunoquímica , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Invasividad Neoplásica , Estadificación de Neoplasias , Pronóstico , Neoplasias de la Vejiga Urinaria/patologíaRESUMEN
The plating efficiency of standard mycological media such as brain heart infusion (BHI) agar is poor for Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. We prepared a water-extract of yeast phase cells of P. brasiliensis and examined it for growth-enhancing activity for the fungus. The water-extract, when added to BHI agar to a concentration of 5%, improved the plating efficiency of the medium for the fungus to some extent, but the degree of improvement was considerably varied among P. brasiliensis isolates. By contrast, when the water-extract was added in combination with horse serum (4%), the plating efficiency was highly improved (to 94-99%) for all the P. brasiliensis isolates employed. The growth-enhancing factor(s) in the water-extract was heat-stable and heating at 120 degrees C for 15 min had little, if any, effect on growth-enhancing activity.
Asunto(s)
Medios de Cultivo , Paracoccidioides/crecimiento & desarrollo , Paracoccidioides/aislamiento & purificaciónRESUMEN
AIMS: To compare the efficacy of histochemical and immunohistochemical methods in detecting forms of Sporothrix schenckii in tissue. METHODS: Thirty five cutaneous biopsy specimens from 27 patients with sporotrichosis were stained by histochemical haematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid Schiff, and Gomori's methenamine silver methods and an immunohistochemical (avidin-biotin complex immunoperoxidase) (ABC) technique associated with a newly produced rabbit polyclonal antibody anti-Sporothrix schenckii. RESULTS: A total of 29 (83%) cases were positive by the ABC method used in association with anti-Sporothrix schenckii rabbit polyclonal antibodies. Histochemical methods, using silver staining, periodic acid Schiff, and conventional haematoxylin and eosin detected 37%, 23%, and 23% of forms of S schenckii, respectively. The ABC technique was significantly more reliable than periodic acid Schiff and silver staining techniques. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that immunostaining is an easy and rapid method which can efficiently increase the accuracy of the diagnosis of sporotrichosis in human tissue.
Asunto(s)
Esporotricosis/diagnóstico , Anticuerpos Antifúngicos/análisis , Histocitoquímica/métodos , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica/métodos , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Piel/inmunología , Sporothrix/inmunología , Sporothrix/metabolismo , Esporotricosis/metabolismoRESUMEN
A tubular adenocarcinoma of the colon with solid area composed by small cells that was found by immunohistochemistry study using antibody to neuron-specific enolase (NSE) to possess neuroendocrine differentiation is related. In another areas of the tumor were visualized keratinizing squamous cells. The presence of neuro-endocrine and squamous cells features provide further evidence that neoplastic colonic cells have the capacity for multi-directional differentiation. The implications of this combination in relation to theories of tumor origin and differentiation and the prognostic significance of neuro-endocrine cells in malignant neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract are discussed.
Asunto(s)
Adenocarcinoma/patología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/patología , Neoplasias del Colon/patología , Sistemas Neurosecretores/patología , Anciano , Diferenciación Celular , Femenino , Humanos , InmunohistoquímicaRESUMEN
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis was induced in mice immunized with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and challenged, one week later, with soluble (SPbAg) or particulate (PPbAg) antigen (formalin-killed yeast cells), administered by the intratracheal route. Between 24 and 48 h post-challenge, animals developed an interstitial and intra-alveolar pneumonitis. Macrophages and lymphocytes arranged focally into loose or mature granulomata were observed by light and electron microscopy. The distribution and fate of antigens was studied by immunofluorescence. Three hours after challenge with SPbAg the lungs showed linear fluorescent deposits, whereas after challenge with PPbAg the pattern was globular, corresponding to the particulate antigen. After 24 and 48 h, the pattern was diffuse and finely granular in both groups, with a decreasing number of animals showing detectable fluorescence. Immunization induced a positive footpad swelling test (FPT) in all animals. After pulmonary challenge, there was a significant decrease in FPT indices, interpreted as desensitization due to trapping of specifically sensitized lymphocytes in the lungs. In conclusion, immunization induced a marked cellular immune response, the inflammatory pattern and the tempo of the induced pneumonitis being compatible with delayed hypersensitivity in the lungs. Immunized mice also cleared the injected antigens rapidly. These data suggest that hypersensitivity pneumonitis may be an expression of pulmonary resistance to infection with P. brasiliensis.
Asunto(s)
Alveolitis Alérgica Extrínseca/inmunología , Antígenos Fúngicos/inmunología , Hongos Mitospóricos/inmunología , Paracoccidioides/inmunología , Alveolitis Alérgica Extrínseca/patología , Animales , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Femenino , Técnica del Anticuerpo Fluorescente , Granuloma/patología , Inmunidad Celular , Inmunización , Inmunodifusión , Pulmón/patología , Pulmón/ultraestructura , Ratones , Microscopía ElectrónicaRESUMEN
Cholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD) is a rare disorder of familial incidence characterized by the accumulation of cholesteryl ester and triglycerides in the liver, intestine and bone marrow. Until now only 21 cases have been reported in the literature. We present a 9 months old girl presenting with increased abdominal girth. She had normal liver function tests and increased cholesterol and triglycerides serum levels. The liver biopsy showed many cholesterol cristals seen as needle shaped cristals under polarized light. This is the youngest patient being diagnosed clinically in the literature.