Antifungal susceptibility of clinical and environmental Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii isolates in Jabalpur, a city of Madhya Pradesh in Central India

In this study, we present antifungal susceptibility data of clinical and environmental isolates of Central Indian Cryptococcus neoformans (Serotype A, n = 8 and n = 50 respectively) and Cryptococcus gattii (Serotype B, n = 01 and n = 04 respectively). Susceptibilities to fluconazole, itraconazole and ketoconazole were determined by using NCCLS broth micro-dilution methodology. The total number of resistant strains for fluconazole in case of C. neoformans and C. gattii showed a significant difference by using chi-square test (p < 0.05*), while considering fisher's exact p value was nonsignificant (p > 0.05). However, the total number of resistant strains for itraconazole and ketoconazole was not found statistically significant. A comparison of geometric means of clinical and environmental strains of C. gattii and C. neoformans was not found statistically significant using student ‘t test (p value > 0.05 NS). Though less, the antifungal data obtained in this study suggests that primary resistance among environmental and clinical isolates of C. neoformans and C. gattii against tested antifungal was present and C. gattii comparatively was less susceptible than C. neoformans var. grubii isolates to fluconazole than to itraconazole and ketoconazole. A continuous surveillance of antifungal susceptibility of clinical and environmental isolates of C. neoformans and C. gattii is desirable to monitor the emergence of any resistant strains for better management of cryptococcosis patients.(AU)

Toxicidade reprodutiva da associação de itraconazol e beta-glucana em ratas e sua progênie / Reproductive toxicity of itraconazole in combination with beta-glucan in female rats and their offspring

Background: Reports of yeast isolates resistant to traditional antifungal drugs have become common. Similarly, refractory clinical cases treated with these traditional antifungal drugs have also been reported. These cases ‘may or may not be related to pregnancy. Newly developed therapeutic approaches, such as the immunostimulant β-glucan combined with the traditional antifungal agents show promising results. Therefore, knowledge of the effects of these new associations is essential. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of the combination of itraconazole and β (1-3) glucan on fertility in female rats and its interference in the development of their offspring, including teratogenic potential.Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 180 female Wistar rats (90 days old) separated into six groups were used (n = 30 per group): Negative Control - treated daily with the volume corresponding to 10 mL.kg-1 of sterile distilled water orally, and 0.25 mL of sterile 0.9% NaCl solution subcutaneously weekly; IT - treated daily with itraconazole at a dose of 10 mg.kg-1 orally, and 0.25 ml of sterile 0.9% NaCl solution subcutaneously weekly; Beta - treated daily with the volume corresponding to 10 mL.kg-1 of sterile distilled water orally, and 0.5 mg of β (1-3) glucan subcutaneously weekly; DT - treated daily with itraconazole at a dose of 10 mg.kg-1 orally, and 0.5 mg of β (1-3) glucan subcutaneously weekly; DT5x - treated daily with itraconazole at a dose of 50 mg.kg-1 orally, and 0.5 mg of β (1-3) glucan subcutaneously weekly; DT10x - treated daily with itraconazole at a dose of 100 mg.kg-1 orally, and 0.5 mg of β (1-3) glucan subcutaneously weekly. The rats were treated before (14 days) and during the mating period (up to 21 days), pregnancy (21 days) and lactation (21 days).[...](AU)

Toxicidade reprodutiva da associação de itraconazol e beta-glucana em ratas e sua progênie / Reproductive toxicity of itraconazole in combination with beta-glucan in female rats and their offspring

Background: Reports of yeast isolates resistant to traditional antifungal drugs have become common. Similarly, refractory clinical cases treated with these traditional antifungal drugs have also been reported. These cases ‘may or may not be related to pregnancy. Newly developed therapeutic approaches, such as the immunostimulant β-glucan combined with the traditional antifungal agents show promising results. Therefore, knowledge of the effects of these new associations is essential. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of the combination of itraconazole and β (1-3) glucan on fertility in female rats and its interference in the development of their offspring, including teratogenic potential.Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 180 female Wistar rats (90 days old) separated into six groups were used (n = 30 per group): Negative Control - treated daily with the volume corresponding to 10 mL.kg-1 of sterile distilled water orally, and 0.25 mL of sterile 0.9% NaCl solution subcutaneously weekly; IT - treated daily with itraconazole at a dose of 10 mg.kg-1 orally, and 0.25 ml of sterile 0.9% NaCl solution subcutaneously weekly; Beta - treated daily with the volume corresponding to 10 mL.kg-1 of sterile distilled water orally, and 0.5 mg of β (1-3) glucan subcutaneously weekly; DT - treated daily with itraconazole at a dose of 10 mg.kg-1 orally, and 0.5 mg of β (1-3) glucan subcutaneously weekly; DT5x - treated daily with itraconazole at a dose of 50 mg.kg-1 orally, and 0.5 mg of β (1-3) glucan subcutaneously weekly; DT10x - treated daily with itraconazole at a dose of 100 mg.kg-1 orally, and 0.5 mg of β (1-3) glucan subcutaneously weekly. The rats were treated before (14 days) and during the mating period (up to 21 days), pregnancy (21 days) and lactation (21 days).[...]

Effects of the association of beta-glucan and itraconazole on fertility of male Wistar rats / Efeitos da associação de beta-glucana e itraconazol sobre a fertilidade de ratos Wistar machos

Background: In recent years, the number of patients with systemic fungal infections requiring antifungal therapy has increased. As a consequence, antimicrobial resistance to conventional treatment is frequently reported. Due to this reason, new therapies emerge, including the combination of beta (1-3) glucan and itraconazole. However, the reproductive and fertility effects of this association were not known. So, the aim of this study was to identify the effects of the combination of itraconazole and beta (1-3) glucan, extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, on male rats fertility. Materials, Methods & Results: Sixty male Wistar rats with 120-days-old were used. The experimental protocol was approved by Ethics Committee on Animal Use of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (protocol CEUA/UFRGS no. 19452/2010). The animals were placed into six groups (n = 10 animals / group) as following: Negative Control group - treated daily with the volume corresponding to 10 mL.kg-1 of sterile distilled water orally and 0.25 mL of sterile normal saline (NaCl 0.9 %) subcutaneously weekly; Itraconazole (IT) group - treated daily with itraconazole solution at a dose of 10 mg.kg-1 orally and 0.25 mL of sterile 0.9% NaCl subcutaneously weekly; Beta group - treated daily with the volume corresponding to 10 mL. kg-1 of sterile distilled water orally and 0.5 mg of beta (1-3) glucan subcut

Nos últimos anos, observou-se aumento do número de pacientes com risco de infecções fúngicas sistêmicas, tais como portadores de HIV, distúrbios hematológicos graves ou imunossuprimidos, pacientes oncológicos e receptores de transplantes. Tais pacientes necessitam de antifúngicos tanto na forma terapêutica como preventiva. Em contrapartida a estes usos, tornaram-se frequentes os relatos de resistência aos fármacos mais utilizados, incluindo o itraconazol. Esta resistência é bastante relevante nos casos envolvendo o gênero Candida, e descrita com outros agentes, como Sporothrix schenckii e Aspergillus fumigatus, em humanos e animais. Nos casos de resistências aos antifúngicos tradicionais, novas alternativas terapêuticas foram buscadas; dentre essas, a associação de ß-glucana, estimulante do sistema imunológico, a antifúngicos tradicionais, mostram-se promissora. Contudo, não existem estudos sobre os efeitos dessa associação sobre o sistema reprodutivo. [...]

Efeitos da associação de beta-glucana e itraconazol sobre a fertilidade de ratos Wistar machos / Effects of the Association of Beta-glucan and Itraconazole on Fertility of Male Wistar Rats

Background: In recent years, the number of patients with systemic fungal infections requiring antifungal therapy has increased. As a consequence, antimicrobial resistance to conventional treatment is frequently reported. Due to this reason, new therapies emerge, including the combination of beta (1-3) glucan and itraconazole. However, the reproductive and fertility effects of this association were not known. So, the aim of this study was to identify the effects of the combination of itraconazole and beta (1-3) glucan, extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, on male rats fertility. Materials, Methods & Results: Sixty male Wistar rats with 120-days-old were used. The experimental protocol was approved by Ethics Committee on Animal Use of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (protocol CEUA/UFRGS no. 19452/2010). The animals were placed into six groups (n = 10 animals / group) as following: Negative Control group - treated daily with the volume corresponding to 10 mL.kg-¹ of sterile distilled water orally and 0.25 mL of sterile normal saline (NaCl 0.9 %) subcutaneously weekly; Itraconazole (IT) group - treated daily with itraconazole solution at a dose of 10 mg.kg-¹ orally and 0.25 mL of sterile 0.9% NaCl subcutaneously weekly; Beta group - treated daily with the volume corresponding to 10 mL.kg-¹ of sterile distilled water orally and 0.5 mg of beta (1-3) glucan subcutaneously weekly; Therapeutic Dose (TD) group - daily treated with itraconazole at a dose of 10 mg.kg-¹ orally and 0.5 mg of ß (1-3) glucan subcutaneously weekly; TD5x - treated daily with itraconazole at a dose of 50 mg.kg-¹ orally and 0.5 mg of beta (1-3 ) glucan subcutaneously weekly; TD10x - daily treated with itraconazole at a dose of 100 mg.kg-¹ orally and 0.5 mg of beta (1-3) glucan subcutaneously weekly. The rats were treated for 91 consecutive days. Individual body mass, organs relative mass and histopathology, number of sperm in the cauda epididymis, daily spermatozoal production, sperm parameters, sperm morphology, serum testosterone concentration and reproductive rates were evaluated. Significant differences were observed in daily spermatozoal production, sperm morphology, serum concentration of testosterone, mating rate and birth rate, with lower results in the TD5x and TD10x groups. Discussion: The systemic toxicity indicators, as body mass variation, water intake and clinical signs, as well as organ histology suggest that systemic toxicity in these animals did not occur. The decrease in serum testosterone concentrations in elevated doses of itraconazole associated with beta (1-3) glucan must be involved in decrease of sperm parameters and in sexual behavior and consequently, in the reproductive rates. Changes in sperm morphology, mainly found in sperm head, indicate sperm immaturity, preamature spermiation, abnormal or degenerate acrosome. Based on these results, it is concluded that beta (1-3) glucan and itraconazole did not affect the male rats reproductive variables when used in therapeutic doses alone or in combination, however these variables were altered with higher doses of itraconazole in the association. These data, added to the absence of histopathological damage of the testes suggest functional effect on male fertility. Caution is advised in the use of high doses of itraconazole with or without beta (1-3) glucan in males, especially in prolonged therapy.

Candidose na medicina veterinária: um enfoque micológico, clínico e terapêutico

The Candida genus is composed by yeasts that live as commmensal on human and animals' microbiota. In general, they do not cause any damage to their hosts. However, due instability on chemical, physical and immunological defenses, these microorganisms can become pathogens. Candida spp. infections are rare on Veterinary Medicine. However, on the last years, a considerable raise of illness caused by these yeasts has been related on varied animal species. Several species of this genus has been mentioned as responsible for infectious diseases in animals, being C. albicans the main of them, followed by C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis. Considering the pathogenic role of the genus Candida, allied to the emerging of resistant strains to the azole derivatives, in vitro, the present research proposed to perform a detailed review, approaching clinic-laboratorial, etiologic and therapeutic aspects of the candidosis on Veterinary medicine.

O gênero Candida é composto por leveduras que vivem como comensais na microbiota de homens e animais. Em geral, não causam nenhum dano aos seus hospedeiros, entretanto, em virtude de desequilíbrios nas defesas química, física e imunológica, esses microrganismos podem se tornar patogênicos. Infecções por Candida spp. são pouco frequentes na Medicina Veterinária no entanto, nos últimos anos, tem sido observado aumento considerável de relatos de enfermidades causadas por essas leveduras, acometendo diferentes animais. Várias espécies do gênero são implicadas em quadros infecciosos, sendo a C. albicans a principal delas, seguida por C. tropicalis e C. parapsilosis. Considerando-se o potencial patogênico do gênero Candida, aliado ao surgimento de cepas resistentes a derivados azólicos, in vitro, o presente trabalho se propôs a realizar detalhada revisão de literatura, abordando os aspectos clínico-laboratoriais, etiológicos e terapêuticos da candidose na Medicina Veterinária.

Candidose na medicina veterinária: um enfoque micológico, clínico e terapêutico

The Candida genus is composed by yeasts that live as commmensal on human and animals' microbiota. In general, they do not cause any damage to their hosts. However, due instability on chemical, physical and immunological defenses, these microorganisms can become pathogens. Candida spp. infections are rare on Veterinary Medicine. However, on the last years, a considerable raise of illness caused by these yeasts has been related on varied animal species. Several species of this genus has been mentioned as responsible for infectious diseases in animals, being C. albicans the main of them, followed by C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis. Considering the pathogenic role of the genus Candida, allied to the emerging of resistant strains to the azole derivatives, in vitro, the present research proposed to perform a detailed review, approaching clinic-laboratorial, etiologic and therapeutic aspects of the candidosis on Veterinary medicine.

O gênero Candida é composto por leveduras que vivem como comensais na microbiota de homens e animais. Em geral, não causam nenhum dano aos seus hospedeiros, entretanto, em virtude de desequilíbrios nas defesas química, física e imunológica, esses microrganismos podem se tornar patogênicos. Infecções por Candida spp. são pouco frequentes na Medicina Veterinária no entanto, nos últimos anos, tem sido observado aumento considerável de relatos de enfermidades causadas por essas leveduras, acometendo diferentes animais. Várias espécies do gênero são implicadas em quadros infecciosos, sendo a C. albicans a principal delas, seguida por C. tropicalis e C. parapsilosis. Considerando-se o potencial patogênico do gênero Candida, aliado ao surgimento de cepas resistentes a derivados azólicos, in vitro, o presente trabalho se propôs a realizar detalhada revisão de literatura, abordando os aspectos clínico-laboratoriais, etiológicos e terapêuticos da candidose na Medicina Veterinária.

Effects of the association of beta-glucan and itraconazole on fertility of male Wistar rats / Efeitos da associação de beta-glucana e itraconazol sobre a fertilidade de ratos Wistar machos

Background: In recent years, the number of patients with systemic fungal infections requiring antifungal therapy has increased. As a consequence, antimicrobial resistance to conventional treatment is frequently reported. Due to this reason, new therapies emerge, including the combination of beta (1-3) glucan and itraconazole. However, the reproductive and fertility effects of this association were not known. So, the aim of this study was to identify the effects of the combination of itraconazole and beta (1-3) glucan, extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, on male rats fertility. Materials, Methods & Results: Sixty male Wistar rats with 120-days-old were used. The experimental protocol was approved by Ethics Committee on Animal Use of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (protocol CEUA/UFRGS no. 19452/2010). The animals were placed into six groups (n = 10 animals / group) as following: Negative Control group - treated daily with the volume corresponding to 10 mL.kg-1 of sterile distilled water orally and 0.25 mL of sterile normal saline (NaCl 0.9 %) subcutaneously weekly; Itraconazole (IT) group - treated daily with itraconazole solution at a dose of 10 mg.kg-1 orally and 0.25 mL of sterile 0.9% NaCl subcutaneously weekly; Beta group - treated daily with the volume corresponding to 10 mL. kg-1 of sterile distilled water orally and 0.5 mg of beta (1-3) glucan subcut

Nos últimos anos, observou-se aumento do número de pacientes com risco de infecções fúngicas sistêmicas, tais como portadores de HIV, distúrbios hematológicos graves ou imunossuprimidos, pacientes oncológicos e receptores de transplantes. Tais pacientes necessitam de antifúngicos tanto na forma terapêutica como preventiva. Em contrapartida a estes usos, tornaram-se frequentes os relatos de resistência aos fármacos mais utilizados, incluindo o itraconazol. Esta resistência é bastante relevante nos casos envolvendo o gênero Candida, e descrita com outros agentes, como Sporothrix schenckii e Aspergillus fumigatus, em humanos e animais. Nos casos de resistências aos antifúngicos tradicionais, novas alternativas terapêuticas foram buscadas; dentre essas, a associação de ß-glucana, estimulante do sistema imunológico, a antifúngicos tradicionais, mostram-se promissora. Contudo, não existem estudos sobre os efeitos dessa associação sobre o sistema reprodutivo. [...]