RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the biofilm-forming ability of Candida spp. from the ocular conjunctiva of horses and to investigate the antifungal susceptibility of these biofilms. PROCEDURES: Initially, the biofilm-forming ability of 15 strains was assessed by crystal violet staining, which reveals the fungal biomass adhered to the polystyrene plates, and scanning electron microscopy. Then, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and caspofungin were initially determined against strains in planktonic form. Afterward, antifungal susceptibility of mature biofilms was evaluated by exposing them to 10 × MIC and 50 × MIC of the tested drugs, followed by the assessment of their metabolic activity, using the oxidoreduction indicator XTT. Results were analyzed through ANOVA and Tukey's post-test, and P-values below 5% led to significant conclusions. RESULTS: Eight strains produced biofilms and were classified as strong (1/15), moderate (3/15) and weak (4/15) producers, according to the amount of crystal violet retained by the adhered fungal biomass. Biofilm metabolic activity of one C. tropicalis did not decrease after exposure to the tested antifungals, while biofilm metabolic activity of five strains was reduced by amphotericin B, but not the other drugs. One C. parapsilosis sensu stricto and one C. glabrata showed significant reduction in biofilm metabolic activity after exposure to fluconazole, itraconazole, and caspofungin, but not amphotericin B. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that Candida from the ocular conjunctiva of horses can pose as a risk to animal health as they are capable of forming biofilms, which are commonly involved in fungal keratitis.
Assuntos
Antifúngicos/farmacologia , Azóis/farmacologia , Biofilmes/efeitos dos fármacos , Candida/efeitos dos fármacos , Túnica Conjuntiva/microbiologia , Anfotericina B/farmacologia , Animais , Candida/classificação , Candida/fisiologia , Candida/ultraestrutura , Caspofungina , Equinocandinas/farmacologia , Infecções Oculares Fúngicas/microbiologia , Infecções Oculares Fúngicas/veterinária , Fluconazol/farmacologia , Doenças dos Cavalos/microbiologia , Cavalos , Itraconazol/farmacologia , Ceratite/microbiologia , Ceratite/veterinária , Lipopeptídeos/farmacologia , Testes de Sensibilidade MicrobianaRESUMO
This was a cross-sectional study to investigate the antifungal susceptibility and production of virulence factors in strains of Candida isolated from the outlet and the lumen of the nasolacrimal duct of horses in the state of Ceará, Brazil. The samples were obtained from 103 horses. Sterile cotton swabs were used to collect the material from the outlet of the nasolacrimal duct and urethral probes, for the instillation of 2 ml of saline solution, were used to collect samples from the lumen of the nasolacrimal duct. A total of 77 Candida isolates were obtained, with C. famata, C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondii, and C. parapsilosis sensu lato as the most prevalent species. One isolate (C. glabrata) was resistant to caspofungin. One isolate was resistant only to fluconazole (C. parapsilosis sensu lato), 11 were resistant only to itraconazole (7 C. tropicalis, 2 C. guilliermondii, 1 C. famata, 1 C. parapsilosis sensu lato), while eight C. tropicalis showed resistance to both azoles. Overall, 28 isolates produced phospholipases and 12 produced proteases. These results highlight the importance of investigating the antifungal susceptibility and virulence trends of Candida spp. from the microbiota of the nasolacrimal duct of horses.
Assuntos
Antifúngicos/farmacologia , Candida/efeitos dos fármacos , Candidíase/veterinária , Farmacorresistência Fúngica , Doenças dos Cavalos/microbiologia , Ducto Nasolacrimal/microbiologia , Fatores de Virulência/análise , Animais , Brasil , Candida/classificação , Candida/genética , Candida/isolamento & purificação , Candidíase/microbiologia , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Cavalos , Masculino , Peptídeo Hidrolases/análise , Fosfolipases/análise , Uretra/microbiologiaRESUMO
Candida tropicalis has been associated with invasive candidiasis, being the first or second most common non-Candida albicans Candida species isolated in humans with candidemia and candiduria, as well as being frequently isolated from healthy animals. This study aimed to characterize C. tropicalis isolates (n = 64) obtained from several animal species regarding antifungal susceptibility and production of virulence factors. The isolates were obtained from the microbiota of healthy animals (goats, n = 25; sheep, n = 6; psittacines, n = 14; rheas, n = 6; horses, n = 2; sirenians, n = 5; shrimp, n = 1), as well as from aquatic mammals found dead in the environment (cetaceans, n = 5). The isolates were subjected to in vitro susceptibility testing by broth microdilution according to the CLSI M27-A3 protocol against amphotericin B, caspofungin, itraconazole, and fluconazole. We also evaluated the virulence attributes, such as proteases and phospholipases, as well as biofilm formation. Resistance to itraconazole (n = 29) and fluconazole (n = 30) was detected among isolates from every source; resistance to both azoles was detected in 24 isolates, but none of them were resistant to amphotericin B and caspofungin. Protease production was detected in the majority of the isolates (n = 59), but phospholipase was produced by only a few of them (n = 6). The isolates showed different patterns in biofilm production, being considered strong producers (n = 41), moderate producers (n = 11), weak producers (n = 9) or non-producers (n = 3). In summary, C. tropicalis isolated from animals showed high rate of resistance to azoles, expressed virulence factors and therefore may represent a potential threat to human and animal health.
Assuntos
Antifúngicos/farmacologia , Azóis/farmacologia , Candida tropicalis/efeitos dos fármacos , Candida tropicalis/enzimologia , Farmacorresistência Fúngica , Enzimas/análise , Fatores de Virulência/análise , Animais , Animais Domésticos , Animais Selvagens , Biofilmes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Candida tropicalis/isolamento & purificação , Candida tropicalis/fisiologia , Testes de Sensibilidade MicrobianaRESUMO
Respiratory infections are a common problem among equines and occur with variable rates of morbidity and mortality. Although some fungal species are considered primary agents of respiratory tract infections in several mammals, their relevance in respiratory diseases of equines is frequently neglected. In the present study, we performed an active search for Candida spp. in the nasal cavity of horses. The presence of Candida spp. was investigated through the use of nasal swabs that were streaked on culture media. These yeasts were identified through physiological testing and their in vitro antifungal susceptibility were also characterized. The analysis of the material from the nasal cavity of 97 randomly chosen horses resulted in the isolation of Candida spp. from 35 animals (36.08%), out of which 18 (32.14%) were C. famata, 14 (25%) C. parapsilosis, 12 (21.42%) Meyerozyma guilliermondii (C. guilliermondii), 11 (19.64%) C. tropicalis and 1 (1.78%) Wickerhamomyces anomalus (C. pelliculosa). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranged from 0.03125-1 µg/ml for amphotericin B; and from 0.03125-> 16 µg/ml and 0.125 to > 64 µg/ml for itraconazole and fluconazole, respectively. Resistance to fluconazole and itraconazole was observed among C. tropicalis (n = 3) and C. guilliermondii (n = 1). The data show a predominance of non-C. albicans Candida species in the nasal microbiota of healthy equines, including antifungal resistant isolates, reiterating the importance of monitoring fungal pathogens in these animals.
Assuntos
Candida/isolamento & purificação , Cavalos/microbiologia , Microbiota , Mucosa Nasal/microbiologia , Animais , Antifúngicos/farmacologia , Candida/classificação , Candida/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Masculino , Técnicas Microbiológicas/métodos , Micologia/métodosRESUMO
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Syzygium cumini leaf extract (ASc), on Adenosine deaminase (ADA) and Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, and also on oxidative stress parameters in erythrocytes hemolysates (RBCs) and erythrocytes membranes (ghosts) from type 2 diabetics patients (Type 2 DM) under in vitro conditions. Non protein thiol groups (NP-SH), AChE, Catalase (CAT) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activities were measure in RBCs. Further, ADA activity, Thiobarbituric Acid-Reactive Substances (TBARS) levels and protein thiol groups (P-SH) were estimated in ghosts. Also, P-SH and Vitamin C (VIT C) were measure in plasma sample. The results demonstrated that ADA and AChE activities, besides TBARS levels were higher in erythrocytes of Type 2 DM, while SOD activity and NP-SH levels were decreased when compared to control group. ASc, in vitro, reduced ADA and AChE activities and some parameters of oxidative stress. Furthermore, we observed correlations between VIT C and P-SH levels, ADA activity and P-SH levels, as well as NP-SH and TBARS levels in diabetics. The results suggest that ASc in vitro is able to promote the reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress parameters, and act against biochemical changes occurring in Diabetes mellitus (DM).
Assuntos
Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/enzimologia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/metabolismo , Eritrócitos/enzimologia , Eritrócitos/metabolismo , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Folhas de Planta/química , Syzygium/química , Acetilcolinesterase/metabolismo , Adenosina Desaminase/metabolismo , Catalase/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Eritrócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Substâncias Reativas com Ácido Tiobarbitúrico/metabolismoRESUMO
Crianças adolescêntes com câncer têm fatores de risco adicionais para adquirir e remover as infecções por HBV e HCV, no períododo tratamento do câncer, o qual pode estar relacionados a procedimentos clínicos invasivos e o estado de imunossupressão relacionado com tratamento quimioterápico, respectivamente. Nosso objetivos foram investigar a situação de crianças e adolescêntes sob tratamento oncológico pediátrico, na Unidade da Oncoclínica Pediátrica do Hospital Universitário Oswaldo Cruz (HUOC-UPE) em Recife, Brasil, relacionada à prevalência dos marcadores de HBV e HCV. A frequência de paciente submetidos a imunoprofilaxia, em nosso estudo, foi somente de 25,2por cento e 3,0por cento que não mostravam soro converão. O total de AntiHBc foi positivo em 19, 7por cento e foi infecção dupla HBV/HCV em 5,1por cento do corte. A investigação sorológica mostrou 24,4 por cento de pacientes positivos para HbsAge e 7,3por centp positivo para AntiHCV. Pode-se concluir que as medidas de biosegurança, vacinação, controle dos componentes de hemoderivados e estratégias para diminuir o tempo de hospitalização (tratamento ambulatórial), são medidas extremamente importantes para serem estabelecidas nos serviços de oncologia, no sentido de evitar essas situações deletérias em pacientes que obtenham sucesso nos seus tratamentos das doenças de base
Assuntos
Criança , Masculino , Feminino , Humanos , Adolescente , Hepatite B , Hepatite C , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Biomarcadores , Segunda Neoplasia Primária , Sorologia , Adolescente , Criança , NeoplasiasRESUMO
The aim of this study was to create efficient and motivating material for use with a population that is in the process of learning and not well informed with respect to schistosomiasis, AIDS, dengue and leishmaniasis. Educational material undoubtedly represents an important possible means of minimizing the prevalence of these diseases. The "Bate-Boca" game is an alternative to such material which can be of help in measures of disease prevention. Thirty-eight adolescents and pre-adolescents with an average age of 15 to 16 years played the game. Before and after they had played the game they exhibited a significant difference in their ability to answer questions about the diseases concerned when answers relevant to all the diseases were considered together (p ú 0.05). In terms of individual diseases, there was a significant increase in knowledge concerning leishmaniasis as judged by the Wilcoxon test (0.05). The students knew very little about this disease before the game. They showed a great interest in the game and a thorough understanding of its rules.