BACKGROUND: Three fungal species causing human disease, namely Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Histoplasma capsulatum and Coccidioides sp., are endemic in different areas of Argentina. Rates of infection in domestic dogs have been used in other Latin American countries as indicators of the presence of these pathogens in a given area. We used such an approach to investigate the epidemiological relevance of paracoccidiodomycosis, histoplasmosis and coccidioidomycosis in our country. AIM: To investigate the presence of P. brasiliensis, H. capsulatum and Coccidioides sp. in a rural area of Argentina called Interfluvio Teuco-Bermejito, located in Chaco province. METHODS: We applied Western Blotting to determine the presence of specific antibodies in sera from 89 domestic dogs inhabiting the area. Antibodies against the following extra-cellular fungal antigens were investigated: gP43 of P. brasiliensis, H/M of H. capsulatum and 120, 82 and 48kDa antigen bands of Coccidioides sp. RESULTS: Specific antibodies against H. capsulatum were found in 9/89 (10%) sera: 8 reacted against both H and M antigens and 1 only reacted against antigen M. Of these 9 sera, one showed additional anti-gp43 activity and another reacted against all the fungal antigens tested. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study using dog infection to assess the presence of endemic fungal pathogens in Argentina. Our results suggest that H. capsulatum is the main dimorphic fungal pathogen in the Interfluvio Teuco-Bermejito area. Therefore, the diagnosis of histoplasmosis should be taken into account in patients living in this geographic region who show pulmonary or mucocutaneous symptoms compatible with the disease. 2009 Revista Iberoamericana de Micología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND: Three fungal species causing human disease, namely Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Histoplasma capsulatum and Coccidioides sp., are endemic in different areas of Argentina. Rates of infection in domestic dogs have been used in other Latin American countries as indicators of the presence of these pathogens in a given area. We used such an approach to investigate the epidemiological relevance of paracoccidiodomycosis, histoplasmosis and coccidioidomycosis in our country. AIM: To investigate the presence of P. brasiliensis, H. capsulatum and Coccidioides sp. in a rural area of Argentina called Interfluvio Teuco-Bermejito, located in Chaco province. METHODS: We applied Western Blotting to determine the presence of specific antibodies in sera from 89 domestic dogs inhabiting the area. Antibodies against the following extra-cellular fungal antigens were investigated: gP43 of P. brasiliensis, H/M of H. capsulatum and 120, 82 and 48kDa antigen bands of Coccidioides sp. RESULTS: Specific antibodies against H. capsulatum were found in 9/89 (10%) sera: 8 reacted against both H and M antigens and 1 only reacted against antigen M. Of these 9 sera, one showed additional anti-gp43 activity and another reacted against all the fungal antigens tested. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study using dog infection to assess the presence of endemic fungal pathogens in Argentina. Our results suggest that H. capsulatum is the main dimorphic fungal pathogen in the Interfluvio Teuco-Bermejito area. Therefore, the diagnosis of histoplasmosis should be taken into account in patients living in this geographic region who show pulmonary or mucocutaneous symptoms compatible with the disease. 2009 Revista Iberoamericana de Micología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.
Authors: Gabriela G Oliveira; Italmar T Navarro; Roberta L Freire; Donizeti R Belitardo; Luciane H Silveira; Zoilo P Camargo; Eiko N Itano; Mario A Ono Journal: Mycopathologia Date: 2011-08-18 Impact factor: 2.574
Authors: A P N Albano; G B Klafke; T M Brandolt; V P Da Hora; L F Minello; S Jorge; E O Santos; G M Behling; Z P Camargo; M O Xavier; M C A Meireles Journal: Mycopathologia Date: 2014-02-26 Impact factor: 2.574
Authors: Ana Paula Neuschrank Albano; Gabriel Baracy Klafke; Tchana Martinez Brandolt; Vanusa Pousada Da Hora; Carlos Eduardo Wayne Nogueira; Melissa Orzechowski Xavier; Mário Carlos Araújo Meireles Journal: Braz J Microbiol Date: 2015-06-01 Impact factor: 2.476
Authors: Julio R Ortiz-Yépez; David A Ortega-Paredes; Pedro M Barba; Paola M Mafla-Endara; Jeannete Zurita Journal: Med Mycol Case Rep Date: 2015-07-03
Authors: Dunja Wilmes; Ursula Mayer; Peter Wohlsein; Michael Suntz; Jasmin Gerkrath; Christoph Schulze; Ina Holst; Wolf von Bomhard; Volker Rickerts Journal: J Fungi (Basel) Date: 2022-08-09
Authors: Nida Ashraf; Ryan C Kubat; Victoria Poplin; Antoine A Adenis; David W Denning; Laura Wright; Orion McCotter; Ilan S Schwartz; Brendan R Jackson; Tom Chiller; Nathan C Bahr Journal: Mycopathologia Date: 2020-02-10 Impact factor: 2.574