Abstract INTRODUCTION: Previous studies that detected Paracoccidioides spp. DNA in soil taken from rural areas have shown this to be a valuable tool for ecological and epidemiological studies. This study reports the detection of Paracoccidioides spp. DNA in soil samples from an urban area of southern Brazil. METHODS: Sixteen soil samples were submitted to nested-PCR and the amplicons of a representative number of positive samples were sequenced. RESULTS: Paracoccidioides spp. DNA was found in 44% of samples. Four DNA amplicons were sequenced, showing 100% homology with P. brasiliensis. CONCLUSIONS: The southern Brazilian urban population is commonly exposed to the Paracoccidioides fungus.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Several factors can cause false-positive results in the galactomannan (GM) test; however, others remain unknown. Presently, the impact of airborne contamination by Aspergillus conidia during enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) remains uninvestigated. METHODS: We studied 12 A. fumigatus isolates. Fungal conidia were serially diluted and tested for GM detection using the Platelia® Aspergillus enzyme immunoassay (EIA). RESULTS: The conidia concentration required for an EIA-positive result was 4.8 × 103 (median). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to evaluate the impact of environmental contamination on the Platelia® Aspergillus EIA assay. Only massive contamination can interfere with GM optical readings, suggesting that environmental contamination does not cause false-positive test results.

Resumo O aumento de casos de esporotricose zoonótica tornou-se um problema de saúde pública em áreas hiperendêmicas para a doença em felinos. O envolvimento dos gatos domésticos nesta transmissão e o contato contínuo destes animais com o solo sugerem que o ambiente possa ser uma importante fonte e/ou reservatório de fungos Sporothrix spp. Assim, este estudo objetivou avaliar a presença de fungos do complexo Sporothrix em amostras de solo provenientes de locais de acesso de felinos infectados no sul do Brasil. Foram coletadas amostras de solo de residências com felinos com esporotricose, de locais próximos a estas residências e também de locais públicos, totalizando 101 amostras. Estas foram processadas pela técnica de plaqueamento direto e incubadas a 25°C por até 15 dias. Dezessete amostras foram paralelamente submetidas a extração de DNA (kitNORGEN BIOTEK CORP®) e técnica de PCR espécie-específico e Nested-PCR. Embora em nenhuma amostra avaliada tenha sido detectada a presença de Sporothrix spp., seja por cultivo ou por biologia molecular, este estudo não descarta o papel do ambiente na tríade do processo infeccioso (solo - animal - humano), sendo necessários outros estudos ampliando área de abrangência, volume, tipo e método de coleta das amostras, bem como técnicas de detecção.

Abstract The increase in zoonotic sporotrichosis cases has become a public health problem in hyperendemic areas for the feline disease. Domestic cats involvement in this transmission and the continuous contact of these animals with soil suggest that the environment may be an essential source and/or reservoir of Sporothrix spp. Thus, the current study aimed to evaluate the presence of Sporothrix spp. in the soil of places where infected cats in Southern Brazil is present. In total, 101 soil samples were collected from the residence of cats with sporotrichosis, from regions around to these residences, and also from public places. These samples were processed using the direct plating technique being incubated at 25 °C for up to 15 days. Additionally, seventeen samples were also submitted to DNA extraction (NORGEN BIOTEK CORP® kit), PCR-specific and Nested-PCR technique. Although the presence of Sporothrix in soil has been undetected, by culture or molecular biology, this study does not reject the role of the environment in the triad of the infectious process (soil-animal-human). Thus, further studies are necessary for expanding the area of coverage, volume, type and method of sampling, and/or detection techniques.

Abstract Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an infection of the genital mucosa caused by different species of the genus Candida. Considering the lack of data on this topic in the south of Brazil, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of Candida spp. in the cervical-vaginal mucosa of patients treated at a university hospital in southern Rio Grande do Sul, as well as the etiology and the susceptibility of the isolates against fluconazole, itraconazole, miconazole and nystatin. Samples were collected at the gynecology clinic of the Federal Hospital of the University of Rio Grande, and the isolates were identified using phenotypic and biochemical tests. The susceptibility analysis was performed according to the CLSI M27-A2 protocol. Of the 263 patients included, Candida spp. was isolated in 27%, corresponding to a prevalence of approximately 15% for both VVC and colonization. More than 60% of the isolates were identified as Candida albicans; C. non-albicans was isolated at a rate of 8.6% in symptomatic patients and 14.3% in asymptomatic patients. The prevalence of resistance against fluconazole and itraconazole was 42% and 48%, respectively; the minimal inhibitory concentration of miconazole ranged from 0.031 to 8 µg/mL, and that of nystatin ranged from 2 to >16 µg/mL. The high rate of resistance to triazoles observed in our study suggests the necessity of the association of laboratory exams to clinical diagnosis to minimize the practice of empirical treatments that can contribute to the development of resistance in the isolates.

A identificação das espécies de fungos pertencentes à microbiota saudável em animais é pré-condição para o reconhecimento dos processos patológicos causados por esses. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a presença de fungos potencialmente patogênicos nas fezes de aves selvagens coletadas em Centros de Triagem. Foram coletadas amostras de fezes de 50 gaiolas com diferentes espécies de aves. As amostras foram processadas de acordo com o método modificado STAIB e as placas foram incubadas a 32 °C por até dez dias, com observações diárias para detecção do crescimento dos fungos. Observamos o isolamento de espécies: Malassezia pachydermatis, Candida albicans, C. famata, C. guilliermondii, C. sphaerica, C. globosa, C. catenulata, C. ciferri, C. intermedia, Cryptococcus laurentii, Trichosporon asahii, Geotrichum klebahnii, Aspergillus spp., A. niger e Penicillium spp. Conhecendo o caráter de alguns fungos oportunistas resalta-se a importância para identificá-los, facilitando a adoção de medidas preventivas, como a limpeza adequada das gaiolas, uma vez que a acumulação de excrementos pode indicar um risco tanto para os profissionais de saúde e centros de triagem de saúde pública.

The identification of the fungal species belonging to the healthy microflora in animals is a precondition for the recognition of pathological processes causing them. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of potentially pathogenic fungi in the feces of wild birds collected in Screening Centers. Samples were collected from the feces of 50 cages with different species of birds. The samples were processed according to the modified method STAIB and the plates incubated at 32 °C for up to ten days with daily observation for detection of fungal growth. The isolation of the following species was observed: Malassezia pachydermatis, Candida albicans, C. famata, C. guilliermondii, C. sphaerica, C. globosa, C. catenulata, C. ciferri, C. intermedia, Cryptococcus laurentii, Trichosporon asahii, Geotrichum klebahnii, Aspergillus spp., A. niger and Penicillium spp. Knowing the character of some opportunistic fungi is important in identifying them, facilitating the adoption of preventive measures, such as proper cleaning of cages, since the accumulation of excreta may indicate a risk for both health professionals and centers for screening public health.