Biodiversity of species of Aspergillus section Fumigati in semi-desert soils in Argentina.

The distribution of Aspergillus species in soil has been widely studied all over the world. The aim of this study was the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of species Aspergillus belonging to section Fumigati present in soils from two Argentinian semi-desert areas having different geological conditions. Altogether, 23 isolates belonging to Aspergillus section Fumigati were recovered and identified using a polyphasic approach including phenotypic and molecular identifications. Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto and Aspergillus fumigatiaffinis had the highest frequency, of occurrence while isolates closely related to Aspergillus udagawae and Aspergillus felis were rarely observed. A. fumigatiaffinis and isolates closer to A. udagawae were isolated for the first time from Argentinian soils and this is the first report on the occurrence of species belonging to the A. felis clade in South America. Recent scientific interests in biodiversity, as well as the increasing importance of aspergilli as causative agents of human and animal diseases increase the need to understand the diversity and occurrence of these fungi in nature.

Aspergillus terreus complex: an emergent opportunistic agent of Onychomycosis.

The incidence of onychomycosis due to non-dermatophyte moulds (NDM) is increasing. Aspergillus terreus is relatively undocumented as an agent of this fungal infection. The aim of this work is to show the prevalence of onychomycosis caused by A. terreus and to describe its clinical features. Nail samples were collected for microscopic examination and culturing in selective media. All cases of onychomycosis due to NDM were confirmed by a second sample. Aspergillus terreus isolates were identified through their morphological characteristics and using molecular methods. A total of 2485 samples were obtained. Positive cultures were obtained in 1639 samples. From 124 NDM confirmed cultures, 23 were identified as A. terreus (18.5%). Superficial white onychomycosis was the most frequent clinical pattern. A high percentage was found in fingernails. The prevalence of A. terreus in this study considerably exceeded the percentages reported by other authors. Onychomycosis due to A. terreus presents similar clinical patterns to those caused by dermatophytes, but is difficult to eradicate and is associated with less predictable treatment outcomes. Better knowledge of the aetiology of A. terreus may be important for accomplishing more accurate and effective treatment.

Micoflora queratinofilica en suelos de la ciudad de Corrientes (Rep. Arg.) / Keratinophylic mycoflora in soil of Corrientes city (Argentine)

Se analizaron mediante la técnica del anzuelo, 116 muestras de suelos de la ciudad de Corrientes (Argentina) tomados en invierno y een verano, para aislar hongos queratinofílicos. El; estudio macromorfológico de los hongos recuperados se realizó a los 15, 30 y 45 días por medio de lupa binocular de aumentos, sembrándolos luego en medios de Sabouraud-dextrosa, Sabouraud-dextrosa-rifamicina, Mycobiotic y medio de agar papa. Se realizó también el análisis físico-químico de los suelos, determinándose pH, contenido de fósforo asimilable, nitratos, textura y materia orgánica. Los cultivos mostraros la presencia de hongos queratófilos en el 100 por ciento de las muestras, comrrespondiendo a loos géneros Trichophyton, Penicillium, Microsporum, Crysosporium, Ctenomyces y Deschlera. En algunos casos hubo aislamientos únicos pero en la mayoría fueron asociaciones de 2, 3 y hasta 4 géneros. Sin embargo Microsporum sólo apareció en el 19,8 por de las muestras. Los suelos fueron mayoritariamente alcalinos, todos arenosos y con buen contenidos de fósforo asimelable. Los resultados obtenidos revelan la existencia de condiciones particularmente favorables para el desarrollo de hongos queratófilos en los suelos de la ciudad de Corrientes

Keratinophilic fungi in soils of Corrientes city (Argentina)

Se analizaron mediante la técnica del anzuelo, 116 muestras de suelos de la ciudad de Corrientes (Argentina), para aislar hongos queratinofílicos. Los cultivos mostraron la presencia de éstos en el 100% de las muestras, correspondiendo en orden decreciente a los géneros Trichophyton, Penicillium, Microsporum, Chrysosporium, Ctenomyces y Drechslera. En algunos casos hubo aislamientos únicos, pero en la mayoría fueron asociaciones de 2, 3 y hasta 4 géneros. Se realizó también el análisis físico-químico de los suelos, determinándose pH, contenido de fósforo asimilable, nitratos, textura y materia orgánica. Los suelos fueron mayoritariamente alcalinos, todos arenosos y con buen contenido de fósforo asimilable. Los resultados obtenidos revelan la existencia de condiciones particularmente favorables para el desarrollo de hongos queratinofílicos en los suelos de la ciudad de Corrientes