RESUMO
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis endemic in Latin American countries and one of the most important fungal diseases regarding incidence and mortality in humans. PCM has also been described in some animal species such as dogs. In this study we describe a new case of PCM disease in a dog that differed from previous records in the literature which includes a progressive evolution of fungal dermatitis causing a deforming lesion in the nose, like those found in human patients, and humoral response against gp70 instead of gp43, the major diagnostic antigen for human PCM. The clinical isolate through the ITS and partial gp43 gene phylogenetic analysis was grouped in the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis complex. This case describes several features which may contribute to improving diagnosis and understanding of canine paracoccidioidomycosis.
Assuntos
Doenças do Cão , Paracoccidioides , Paracoccidioidomicose , Filogenia , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Paracoccidioidomicose/diagnóstico , Paracoccidioidomicose/microbiologia , Animais , Cães , Paracoccidioides/isolamento & purificação , Paracoccidioides/genética , Doenças do Cão/microbiologia , Doenças do Cão/diagnóstico , Masculino , Doença CrônicaRESUMO
Germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors, particularly C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), are essential for phagocytes to sense invading fungal cells. Among CLRs, Dectin-2 (encoded by Clec4n) plays a critical role in the antifungal immune response as it recognizes high-mannose polysaccharides on the fungal cell wall, triggering phagocyte functional activities and ultimately determining adaptive responses. Here, we assessed the role of Dectin-2 on the course of primary Paracoccidioides brasiliensis systemic infection in mice with Dectin-2-targeted deletion. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis constitutes the principal etiologic agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, the most prominent invasive mycosis in Latin American countries. The deficiency of Dectin-2 resulted in shortened survival rates, high lung fungal burden, and increased lung pathology in mice infected with P. brasiliensis. Consistently, dendritic cells (DCs) from mice lacking Dectin-2 infected ex vivo with P. brasiliensis showed impaired secretion of several proinflammatory and regulatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-10. Additionally, when cocultured with splenic lymphocytes, DCs were less efficient in promoting a type 1 cytokine pattern secretion (i.e., IFN-γ). In macrophages, Dectin-2-mediated signaling was required to ensure phagocytosis and fungicidal activity associated with nitric oxide production. Overall, Dectin-2-mediated signaling is critical to promote host protection against P. brasiliensis infection, and its exploitation might lead to the development of new vaccines and immunotherapeutic approaches.
We report a critical role of the innate immune receptor Dectin-2 during Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection. Fungal sensing by Dectin-2 improved the survival of mice and lowered fungal burden. Further, Dectin-2 was required for cytokine production, phagocytosis, and fungal killing by phagocytes.
Assuntos
Paracoccidioides , Paracoccidioidomicose , Camundongos , Animais , Fagócitos/patologia , Lectinas Tipo C/metabolismo , Macrófagos , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterináriaRESUMO
Paracoccidioides species have always been surrounded by taxonomic uncertainties. The continuing nomenclatoral muddle was caused in part by the failure of Adolfo Lutz and Jorge Lôbo to name the etiologic agents of human paracoccidioidomycosis and Jorge Lôbo's diseases, respectively. Early in their history, it was postulated that the cultivable species causing systemic infections belonged in the genus Paracoccidioides, whereas the uncultivable species, causing skin disease, were not part of the genus. The taxonomy of these pathogens was further complicated when a similar skin disease with numerous yeast-like cells in infected dolphins was also reported. Due to its phenotypic similarities with that described by Jorge Lôbo in human and its uncultivable nature, it was assumed that the disease in dolphins was caused by the same fungus. Recent molecular and population genetic analysis, however, found the DNA extracted from the uncultivable yeast-like cells affecting dolphins shared common phylogenetic traits with cultivable Paracoccidioides species. The study revealed that the uncultivable pathogens comprised 2 different Paracoccidioides species, now known as P. ceti and P. loboi, correspondingly. To validate P. loboi binomial, a comprehensive historical critical review of Jorge Lôbo etiology was performed. This review showed the proposed binomial P. loboi was previously used, and, thus, a replacement name is introduced, Paracoccidioides lobogeorgii nom. nov. In addition, in this review, several cultivable human Paracoccidioides species are validated, and the generic type species, P. brasiliensis, is neotypified as the original material could not be traced.
Assuntos
Golfinhos , Paracoccidioides , Paracoccidioidomicose , Humanos , Animais , Paracoccidioides/genética , Filogenia , Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Paracoccidioidomicose/epidemiologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Paracoccidioidomicose/microbiologiaRESUMO
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis caused by fungi of the Paracoccidioides genus, being endemic in Latin America and with the highest number of cases in Brazil. Paracoccidioides spp. release a wide range of molecules, such as enzymes, which may be important for PCM establishment. Here, we identified the 85- and 90-kDa proteins from the supernatants of P. brasiliensis cultures as being an α-mannosidase. Because the expected mass of this α-mannosidase is 124.2-kDa, we suggest that the proteins were cleavage products. Indeed, we found an α-mannosidase activity in the culture supernatants among the excreted/secreted antigens (ESAg). Moreover, we determined that the enzyme activity was optimal in buffer at pH 5.6, at the temperature of 45ºC, and with a concentration of 3 mM of the substrate p-NP-α-D-Man. Remarkably, we showed that the gene expression of this α-mannosidase was higher in yeasts than hyphae in three P. brasiliensis isolates with different virulence degrees that were grown in Ham's F12 synthetic medium for 15 days. But in complex media YPD and Fava Netto, the significantly higher gene expression in yeasts than in hyphae was seen only for the virulent isolate Pb18, but not for intermediate virulence Pb339 and low virulence Pb265 isolates. These results about the high expression of the α-mannosidase gene in the pathogenic yeast form of P. brasiliensis open perspectives for studying this α-mannosidase concerning the virulence of P. brasiliensis isolates. LAY SUMMARY: Paracoccidioides brasiliensis causes deep mycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis. We determined for the first time the biochemical properties of an α-mannosidase released by this fungus. We suggest that the enzyme gene expression in the fungus is associated with fungal morphology, stress, and virulence.
Assuntos
Paracoccidioides , Paracoccidioidomicose , Animais , Expressão Gênica , Paracoccidioides/genética , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Virulência , alfa-Manosidase/genéticaRESUMO
Armadillos are specialist diggers and their burrows are used to find food, seek shelter and protect their pups. These burrows can also be shared with dozens of vertebrate and invertebrate species and; consequently, their parasites including the zoonotics. The aim of this study was to diagnose the presence of zoonotic parasites in four wild-caught armadillo species from two different Brazilian ecosystems, the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) and the Pantanal (wetland). The investigated parasites and their correspondent diseases were: Toxoplasma gondii (toxoplasmosis), Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease), Leishmania spp., (leishmaniasis), Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Paracoccidioidomicosis) and Mycobacterium leprae (Hansen's disease). Forty-three free-living armadillos from Pantanal and seven road-killed armadillos from the Cerrado were sampled. Trypanosoma cruzi DTU TcIII were isolated from 2 out of 43 (4.65%) armadillos, including one of them also infected with Trypanosoma rangeli. Antibodies anti-T. gondii were detected in 13 out of 43 (30.2%) armadillos. All seven armadillos from Cerrado tested positive for P. brasiliensis DNA, in the lungs, spleen, liver fragments. Also, by molecular analysis, all 43 individuals were negative for M. leprae and Leishmania spp. Armadillos were infected by T. cruzi, T. rangeli, P. brasiliensis and presented seric antibodies to T. gondii, highlighting the importance of those armadillos could have in the epidemiology of zoonotic parasites.
Assuntos
Tatus , Doença de Chagas/veterinária , Leishmaniose/veterinária , Hanseníase/veterinária , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Toxoplasmose Animal/parasitologia , Zoonoses/microbiologia , Zoonoses/parasitologia , Animais , Brasil , Doença de Chagas/parasitologia , Feminino , Leishmania/isolamento & purificação , Leishmaniose/parasitologia , Hanseníase/microbiologia , Masculino , Mycobacterium leprae/isolamento & purificação , Paracoccidioides/isolamento & purificação , Paracoccidioidomicose/parasitologia , Especificidade da Espécie , Toxoplasma/isolamento & purificação , Trypanosoma cruzi/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
The thermodimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the etiological agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a deep mycosis endemic in Latin American countries that affects mainly male rural workers. Infection by P. brasiliensis has also been reported in several species of terrestrial animals; however, the capacity of the fungus to infect aquatic organisms is poorly known. The aim of this study was to detect P. brasiliensis in a fish species, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), the most farmed and widely distributed fish in endemic areas for human PCM in Brazil. As a first step, the humoral immune response against the fungus was evaluated in an experimental group of three fish immunized with inactivated P. brasiliensis yeast cells. For the seroepidemiological study, serum samples of Nile tilapia raised in cages (n = 109) and in ponds (n = 105), collected from a fish slaughterhouse, were analyzed for P. brasiliensis antibodies by ELISA using gp43 as antigen. All the inoculated fish produced antibodies against the fungus. The seropositivity observed in fish raised in cages and ponds was 17.4 and 5.7%, respectively. Due to the higher seropositivity observed in caged fish, 100 tissue samples (encephalon, liver, and kidney), from another group of tilapia raised in cages, were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR; Pb-ITSR and Pb-ITSE). Three tissue samples (liver n = 1, kidney n = 1, and enchepahlon n = 1) from three different fish resulted positive to PCR. This is the first report to show serological and molecular evidence of P. brasiliensis infection in a fish species.
Assuntos
Aquicultura , Ciclídeos/imunologia , Ciclídeos/microbiologia , Doenças dos Peixes/microbiologia , Imunização/veterinária , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Animais , Anticorpos Antifúngicos/sangue , Antígenos de Fungos/imunologia , Feminino , Doenças dos Peixes/imunologia , Imunidade Humoral , Imunização/métodos , Paracoccidioides/genética , Paracoccidioides/patogenicidade , Paracoccidioidomicose/imunologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/prevenção & controle , Estudos SoroepidemiológicosRESUMO
Epidemiological studies on endemic mycosis can be improved using molecular biology techniques to elucidate the role of bats as reservoirs and vectors of pathogenic fungi for infection of other animals and humans. The objective of this study was to explore the presence of Histoplasma capsulatum, Cryptococcus spp. and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in insectivorous, frugivorous and nectarivorous bats collected in urban areas. We analysed 172 bats collected by the Epidemiological Surveillance Agency in 12 municipalities of the Midwest region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Spleen, liver, intestine and lung samples were subjected to microbiological culture and nested PCR analyses. Prevalence of H. capsulatum infection was 8.1% (14/172), with one bat found to be positive by fungal culturing, 12 positive by nested PCR and one positive by both methods. Two insectivorous bats were found positive by nested PCR for Cryptococcus spp., one in the spleen and the other in the spleen and lung. Two insectivorous bats showed natural infection by P. brasiliensis, in the spleen of one bat and the spleen and liver of the other. Our results reinforce the importance of bats as fungal dispersers in urban environments and the importance of constant epidemiologic surveillance because these synanthropic animals are in close contact with humans and animals.
Assuntos
Quirópteros/microbiologia , Cryptococcus/isolamento & purificação , Histoplasma/isolamento & purificação , Paracoccidioides/isolamento & purificação , Animais , Brasil , Criptococose/diagnóstico , Criptococose/veterinária , Reservatórios de Doenças , Vetores de Doenças , Histoplasmose/diagnóstico , Histoplasmose/veterinária , Humanos , Fígado/microbiologia , Pulmão/microbiologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/diagnóstico , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Baço/microbiologia , População UrbanaRESUMO
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and the related species P. americana, P. restrepiensis, P. venezuelensis, and P. lutzii (Ascomycota, Ajellomycetaceae) are the etiological agents of paracoccidoidoimycosis (PCM), one of the most important systemic mycoses in Latin America. They are dimorphic fungi, with a mycelial life cycle in soil and a yeast phase associated with tissues of mammalian hosts. This study aimed to detect Paracoccidioides spp. in armadillo tissues and associated soil samples in three well-defined geographic areas, including the Alta Floresta, an area not only endemic for PCM in the central region of Brazil but also of probable P. lutzii occurrence, whose ecology and geographic distribution are poorly elucidated. The isolates were genotyped by sequencing ITS-rDNA and the gp43-exon-2 region, and by PCR-RFLP of alpha tubulin (tub1) gene; mycological aspects such as yeast-to-mycelial transition, growth and conidial production in soil extract agar were also evaluated. We confirmed that while armadillos are highly infected by P. brasiliensis, including multiple infections by distinct genotypes or species (P. brasiliensis and P. americana) in the same animal, the same does not hold true for P. lutzii, which in turn seems to present less capacity for mycelial growth and conidial production, when developing in a soil-related condition.
Assuntos
Tatus/microbiologia , Variação Genética , Paracoccidioides/isolamento & purificação , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Microbiologia do Solo , Animais , Antígenos de Fungos/genética , Brasil , Análise por Conglomerados , DNA Fúngico/química , DNA Fúngico/genética , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/química , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/genética , Feminino , Proteínas Fúngicas/genética , Genótipo , Glicoproteínas/genética , Masculino , Técnicas Microbiológicas , Paracoccidioides/classificação , Paracoccidioides/genética , Paracoccidioides/fisiologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/microbiologia , Filogenia , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Tubulina (Proteína)/genéticaRESUMO
Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis prevalent in Latin American countries, caused by the dimorphic fungi Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and P. lutzii. The habitat of these fungi in nature remains undefined, although it is believed that infection occurs by inhalation of infective propagules present in soil. Sentinel animals, such as dogs, can be valuable epidemiological markers of paracoccidioidomycosis. Taking into account that paracoccidioidomycosis and visceral leishmaniasis may occur in the same area, the objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of P. brasiliensis infection in dogs positive for Leishmania sp. Serum samples of dogs positive (n = 199) and negative (n = 101) for Leishmania sp. were analyzed by the immunodiffusion test using P. brasiliensis exoantigen, and 22 samples (7.3%) were positive. The serum samples positive in the immunodiffusion test were also analyzed by Western blotting using the P. brasiliensis gp43 recombinant protein, and 86% of the samples were positive. A high positive correlation (r = 0.96) between positivity for Leishmania sp. and P. brasiliensis was observed. These data suggest an association between leishmaniasis and paracoccidioidomycosis in dogs.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Antifúngicos/sangue , Coinfecção/veterinária , Doenças do Cão/diagnóstico , Leishmaniose/veterinária , Paracoccidioides/imunologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Testes Sorológicos , Animais , Western Blotting , Brasil , Coinfecção/diagnóstico , Coinfecção/microbiologia , Doenças do Cão/microbiologia , Cães , Imunodifusão , Leishmaniose/complicações , Paracoccidioidomicose/diagnósticoRESUMO
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis that occurs in several Latin American countries, especially in Brazil. It is caused by the thermo-dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides spp. Serological studies to detect animal infection represent an excellent strategy for data on the agent's ecology. Although the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) is an endemic area for PCM in humans, there is scarce information available on the ecology of the agent in the region. This study aimed to investigate the infection by Paracoccidioides lutzii in animals living in RS, Brazil. A total of 85 wild mammals, 200 horses and 196 domestic dogs, previously tested for infection by P. brasiliensis, were included in this study. Serum samples from the animals were tested by ELISA to detect anti- P. lutzii antibodies. From the 481 animals tested, 105 (21.8%) were seropositive for IgG anti-P. lutzii. Of these, 54 were also positive for P. brasiliensis. A total of 11 horses (10.5%), 30 dogs (28.8%) and 10 wild mammals (9.5%) were positive only for P. lutzii (n=51). The detection of anti-P. lutzii antibodies in animals of RS suggests that the fungus can be found in southern Brazil, despite being described mainly in the midwest and southeast of the country.
Assuntos
Mamíferos/microbiologia , Paracoccidioides/isolamento & purificação , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Animais , Anticorpos Antifúngicos/sangue , Antígenos de Fungos/imunologia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Cães/microbiologia , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Cavalos/microbiologia , Humanos , Paracoccidioidomicose/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is an endemic disease of humans from Latin America that is caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and P. lutzii, with most cases of PCM in domestic animals being associated with P. brasiliensis. This study presents the clinical, cytological, mycological, serological, and molecular findings associated with P. brasiliensis in a dog from Southern Brazil. Fine needle biopsies were collected from the skin and several lymph nodes of a 5-year-old female Labrador dog that had enlargement of most superficial lymph nodes. Cytology of the skin and lymph nodes revealed pyogranulomatous dermatitis and lymphadenitis associated with fine-necked, budding fungal structures consistent with the Paracoccidioides genus of organisms; mycological culture derived from the lymph node aspirate demonstrated similar budding structures. Serological assays using exoantigens obtained from the fungal culture demonstrated that the fungal organisms derived from the lymph node were antigenically similar to P. brasiliensis by immunodiffusion and Western blot. A PCR assay, using the fungal culture as input, amplified a partial segment of the internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 regions of P. brasiliensis; direct sequencing and phylogenetic analyses confirmed the PCR product as P. brasiliensis. The combined cytological, mycological, serological, and molecular findings confirmed a diagnosis of fungal dermatitis and lymphadenitis due to P. brasiliensis in this dog. This case represents the third description of clinical PCM in dogs and the first confirmation of mycotic dermatitis associated with P. brasiliensis in this species. The participation of dogs in the possible dissemination of PCM is reviewed, and it is proposed that dogs are probable accidental hosts in the epidemiological cycle associated with P. brasiliensis.
Assuntos
Dermatite/veterinária , Doenças do Cão/diagnóstico , Doenças do Cão/patologia , Linfadenite/veterinária , Paracoccidioides/isolamento & purificação , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Animais , Antígenos de Fungos/análise , Biópsia por Agulha Fina , Brasil , Análise por Conglomerados , DNA Fúngico/química , DNA Fúngico/genética , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/química , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/genética , Dermatite/etiologia , Dermatite/patologia , Doenças do Cão/microbiologia , Cães , Feminino , Histocitoquímica , Imunoensaio , Linfonodos/microbiologia , Linfonodos/patologia , Linfadenite/etiologia , Linfadenite/patologia , Técnicas Microbiológicas , Microscopia , Paracoccidioidomicose/etiologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/patologia , Filogenia , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Pele/microbiologia , Pele/patologiaRESUMO
Cutaneous granulomas in dolphins were believed to be caused by Lacazia loboi, which also causes a similar disease in humans. This hypothesis was recently challenged by reports that fungal DNA sequences from dolphins grouped this pathogen with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. We conducted phylogenetic analysis of fungi from 6 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with cutaneous granulomas and chains of yeast cells in infected tissues. Kex gene sequences of P. brasiliensis from dolphins showed 100% homology with sequences from cultivated P. brasiliensis, 73% with those of L. loboi, and 93% with those of P. lutzii. Parsimony analysis placed DNA sequences from dolphins within a cluster with human P. brasiliensis strains. This cluster was the sister taxon to P. lutzii and L. loboi. Our molecular data support previous findings and suggest that a novel uncultivated strain of P. brasiliensis restricted to cutaneous lesions in dolphins is probably the cause of lacaziosis/lobomycosis, herein referred to as paracoccidioidomycosis ceti.
Assuntos
Doenças dos Animais/microbiologia , Dermatomicoses/veterinária , Golfinhos , Granuloma/veterinária , Paracoccidioides , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Doenças dos Animais/patologia , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Biópsia , DNA Fúngico , Paracoccidioides/classificação , Paracoccidioides/genética , Paracoccidioides/isolamento & purificação , FilogeniaRESUMO
The epidemiological characteristics of paracoccidioidomycosis were reviewed and updated. The new endemic areas in Brazil were discussed in the section regarding the geographic distribution of the mycosis. Subclinical infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was discussed on the basis of skin test surveys with antigens of the fungus, seroepidemiological studies, and disease cases outside Latin America. Large case series permitted a comparison of the prevalence of the mycosis in different regions, its estimated incidence and risk factors for the development of the disease. Aspects modulating the expression of the clinical forms of paracoccidioidomycosis are also presented. This review also deals with diseases associated with the mycosis, opportunistic paracoccidioidomycosis, lethality, mortality and infection and disease in animals.
Assuntos
Paracoccidioidomicose/epidemiologia , Animais , Humanos , Incidência , América Latina/epidemiologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Prevalência , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
SUMMARYThe epidemiological characteristics of paracoccidioidomycosis were reviewed and updated. The new endemic areas in Brazil were discussed in the section regarding the geographic distribution of the mycosis. Subclinical infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was discussed on the basis of skin test surveys with antigens of the fungus, seroepidemiological studies, and disease cases outside Latin America. Large case series permitted a comparison of the prevalence of the mycosis in different regions, its estimated incidence and risk factors for the development of the disease. Aspects modulating the expression of the clinical forms of paracoccidioidomycosis are also presented. This review also deals with diseases associated with the mycosis, opportunistic paracoccidioidomycosis, lethality, mortality and infection and disease in animals.
RESUMOAs características epidemiológicas da paracoccidioidomicose foram revistas e atualizadas. Novas áreas endêmicas brasileiras foram discutidas na seção de distribuição geográfica da micose. A infecção subclínica por Paracoccidioides brasiliensis foi discutida com base em pesquisas realizadas com testes cutâneos com antígenos do fungo, estudos soroepidemiológicos e em casos de doença, fora da América Latina. Grandes séries de casos permitiram a comparação da prevalência da micose em diferentes regiões, sua incidência estimada e fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento da doença. Aspectos modulando a expressão de formas subclínicas da paracoccidioidomicose foram igualmente apresentados. Esta revisão também trata de doenças associadas à micose, paracoccidioidomicose oportunista, letalidade, mortalidade e infecção e doença em animais.
Assuntos
Humanos , Animais , Paracoccidioidomicose/epidemiologia , Incidência , América Latina/epidemiologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Prevalência , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the etiological agent of the major systemic mycosis in Brazil, called paracoccidioidomycosis. Although the Rio Grande do Sul is considered an endemic area of the disease, there are few studies on the ecology of P. brasiliensis in the state. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the infection of P. brasiliensis in horses from the mesoregion of Southwest Riograndense, using these animals as sentinels. Serological techniques, such as double immunodiffusion in agar gel (AGID) and indirect ELISA, were performed to detect the anti-gp43 P. brasiliensis antibody in horses from five different farms in the region of Bagé, RS, Brazil. Serology was performed in 200 Pure Blood English horses up to two years of age that were born and raised exclusively at the farms. Of these horses, 12% had anti-gp43 antibodies according to the ELISA results, with rates ranging from 0 to 30% according to the farm of origin (p < 0.001). Based on the immunodiffusion results, all equine serum samples were negative. These results indicate the presence of the fungus P. brasiliensis in the middle region of the southwestern state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Antifúngicos/sangue , Doenças dos Cavalos/epidemiologia , Paracoccidioides/imunologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Animais , Brasil/epidemiologia , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Doenças dos Cavalos/microbiologia , Cavalos , Paracoccidioidomicose/epidemiologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/microbiologia , Estudos SoroepidemiológicosRESUMO
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis prevalent in Brazil and other Latin American countries. The etiological agents of PCM are the thermo-dimorphic fungi Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and P. lutzii. Taking into account that the natural habitat of Paracoccidioides spp. is still undefined, domestic and wild animals could be useful as indicators of Paracoccidioides spp. presence in endemic areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the infection of small wild mammals by P. brasiliensis in an endemic area for human PCM. Samples from 38 wild mammals from different species such as Akodon sp., Thaptomys nigrita, Euryoryzomys russatus, Oligoryzomys nigripes, Monodelphis sp., Sooretamys angouya, Abrawayaomys angouya, Abrawayaomys ruschii and Akodontinae sp. were evaluated by ELISA, immunodiffusion, histopathology, nested PCR and culture. The overall positivity to gp43 observed in the ELISA was 23.7%. Samples from heart and liver of one O. nigripes were PCR positive, and the animal was also seropositive to gp43 in ELISA. This study showed that wild animals living in endemic areas for PCM are infected with P. brasiliensis and can be valuable epidemiological markers of the fungus presence in the environment. This is the first evidence of PCM infection in Akodon sp., E. russatus, T. nigrita and O. nigripes.
Assuntos
Monodelphis , Paracoccidioides/isolamento & purificação , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Sigmodontinae , Animais , Anticorpos Antifúngicos/sangue , Brasil , DNA Fúngico/análise , DNA Fúngico/genética , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Coração/microbiologia , Fígado/microbiologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/epidemiologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/microbiologia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , PrevalênciaRESUMO
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the etiological agent of the major systemic mycosis in Brazil, called paracoccidioidomycosis. Although the Rio Grande do Sul is considered an endemic area of the disease, there are few studies on the ecology of P. brasiliensis in the state. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the infection of P. brasiliensis in horses from the mesoregion of Southwest Riograndense, using these animals as sentinels. Serological techniques, such as double immunodiffusion in agar gel (AGID) and indirect ELISA, were performed to detect the anti-gp43 P. brasiliensis antibody in horses from five different farms in the region of Bagé, RS, Brazil. Serology was performed in 200 Pure Blood English horses up to two years of age that were born and raised exclusively at the farms. Of these horses, 12% had anti-gp43 antibodies according to the ELISA results, with rates ranging from 0 to 30% according to the farm of origin (p < 0.001). Based on the immunodiffusion results, all equine serum samples were negative. These results indicate the presence of the fungus P. brasiliensis in the middle region of the southwestern state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Assuntos
Animais , Anticorpos Antifúngicos/sangue , Doenças dos Cavalos/epidemiologia , Paracoccidioides/imunologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Brasil/epidemiologia , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Cavalos , Doenças dos Cavalos/microbiologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/epidemiologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/microbiologia , Estudos SoroepidemiológicosRESUMO
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the etiological agent of the major systemic mycosis in Brazil, called paracoccidioidomycosis. Although the Rio Grande do Sul is considered an endemic area of the disease, there are few studies on the ecology of P. brasiliensis in the state. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the infection of P. brasiliensis in horses from the mesoregion of Southwest Riograndense, using these animals as sentinels. Serological techniques, such as double immunodiffusion in agar gel (AGID) and indirect ELISA, were performed to detect the anti-gp43 P. brasiliensis antibody in horses from five different farms in the region of Bagé, RS, Brazil. Serology was performed in 200 Pure Blood English horses up to two years of age that were born and raised exclusively at the farms. Of these horses, 12% had anti-gp43 antibodies according to the ELISA results, with rates ranging from 0 to 30% according to the farm of origin (p < 0.001). Based on the immunodiffusion results, all equine serum samples were negative. These results indicate the presence of the fungus P. brasiliensis in the middle region of the southwestern state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.(AU)
Assuntos
Animais , Anticorpos Antifúngicos/sangue , Doenças dos Cavalos/epidemiologia , Paracoccidioides/imunologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Brasil/epidemiologia , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Doenças dos Cavalos/microbiologia , Cavalos , Paracoccidioidomicose/epidemiologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/microbiologia , Estudos SoroepidemiológicosRESUMO
The dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the etiological agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). It is believed that approximately 10 million people are infected with the fungus and approximately 2% will eventually develop the disease. Unlike viral and bacterial diseases, fungal diseases are the ones against which there is no commercially available vaccine. Saccharomyces cerevisiae may be a suitable vehicle for immunization against fungal infections, as they require the stimulation of different arms of the immune response. Here we evaluated the efficacy of immunizing mice against PCM by using S. cerevisiae yeast expressing gp43. When challenged by inoculation of P. brasiliensis yeasts, immunized animals showed a protective profile in three different assays. Their lung parenchyma was significantly preserved, exhibiting fewer granulomas with fewer fungal cells than found in non-immunized mice. Fungal burden was reduced in the lung and spleen of immunized mice, and both organs contained higher levels of IL-12 and IFN-γ compared to those of non-vaccinated mice, a finding that suggests the occurrence of Th1 immunity. Taken together, our results indicate that the recombinant yeast vaccine represents a new strategy to confer protection against PCM.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Fungos/metabolismo , Proteínas Fúngicas/metabolismo , Glicoproteínas/metabolismo , Paracoccidioides/imunologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/prevenção & controle , Paracoccidioidomicose/veterinária , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/fisiologia , Animais , Antígenos de Fungos/genética , Antígenos de Fungos/imunologia , Proteínas Fúngicas/genética , Proteínas Fúngicas/imunologia , Vacinas Fúngicas/imunologia , Glicoproteínas/genética , Glicoproteínas/imunologia , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Interleucina-2/metabolismo , Pulmão/efeitos dos fármacos , Pulmão/microbiologia , Pulmão/patologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Paracoccidioides/genética , Paracoccidioidomicose/imunologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/patologia , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genética , Baço/efeitos dos fármacos , Baço/microbiologia , Baço/patologia , VacinaçãoRESUMO
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a dimorphic pathogenic fungus, causes the principal form of systemic mycosis in Brazil. The literature furnishes only limited data on the ecology of this fungus in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of fungal infection in wild animals, using serological tests and using the animals as sentinels of the presence of P. brasiliensis in three specified mesoregions of Rio Grande do Sul. A total of 128 wild animals from the three mesoregions were included in the study. The serum samples were evaluated by immunodiffusion and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique to detect anti-gp43 antibodies from P. brasiliensis. Two conjugates were tested and compared with the ELISA technique. Although no positive samples were detected by immunodiffusion, 26 animals (20%), belonging to 13 distinct species, were found to be seropositive by the ELISA technique. The seropositive animals were from two mesoregions of the state. The results were similar according to the gender, age, and family of the animals, but differed significantly according to the conjugate used (p < 0.001), showing more sensitivity to protein A-peroxidase than to protein G-peroxidase. The finding that wild animals from the state of Rio Grande do Sul are exposed to P. brasiliensis suggests that the fungus can be found in this region despite the often-rigorous winters, which frequently include below-freezing temperatures.