Assessment of performance and comparison of three commercial HDV RNA detection assays: implications for diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

Objectives: Precise HDV-RNA detection and quantification are pivotal for diagnosis and monitoring of response to newly approved treatment. We evaluate the performance of three HDV RNA detection and quantification assays. Methods: Hepatitis Delta RT-PCR system kit, EurobioPlex HDV assay, and RoboGene HDV RNA Quantification kit 2.0 were used for testing 151 HBsAg-positive samples, 90 HDV-RNA negative and 61 HDV-RNA positive. We also evaluated serial dilutions of the WHO international standard for HDV, PEI 7657/12. All HDV-RNA positive samples were genotyped using a next-generation sequencing strategy. Results: Qualitative results indicated a 100% concordance between tests. Quantitative results correlated well, r2 = 0.703 (Vircell-vs-Eurobio), r2 = 0.833 (Vircell-vs-RoboGene), r2 = 0.835 (Robogene-vs-Eurobio). Bias index was 2.083 (Vircell-vs-Eurobio), -1.283 (Vircell-vs-RoboGene), and -3.36 (Robogene-vs-Eurobio). Using the WHO IS, Vircell overestimated the viral load by 0.98 log IU/mL, Eurobio by 1.46 log IU/mL, and RoboGene underestimated it by 0.98 log IU/mL. Fifty-nine samples were successfully genotyped (Genotype 1, n=52; Genotype 5, n=7; Genotype 6, n=1), with similar results for correlation and bias. Conclusion: This study underscores the necessity of using reliable HDV-RNA detection and quantification assays, as evidenced by the high concordance rates in qualitative detection and the observed variability in quantitative results. These findings highlight the importance of consistent assay use in clinical practice to ensure accurate diagnosis and effective treatment monitoring of HDV infection.

[Fungemia due to Trichosporon asahii in a patient with hematological malignancy]. / Fungemia por Trichosporon asahii en un paciente con neoplasia hematológica.

BACKGROUND: Trichosporonosis is an opportunistic infection caused by the genus Trichosporon. The majority of cases of invasive trichosporonosis occurs in immunocompromised individuals. CASE REPORT: We describe a case of disseminated infection by Trichosporon asahii in a hematology patient. A 52-year-old man diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia developed a febrile episode during the third cycle of the induction chemotherapy. The blood cultures were positive after 24h incubation, showing elongated structures compatible with fungal elements in the Gram stain. The identification of the fungus as Trichosporon asahii was carried out by the assimilation of compounds of carbon and the amplification and sequencing of the D1/D2 domain and the internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal DNA. The fungus was also isolated from the pustular lesions that the patient had in the chest. After treatment with amphotericin B, the patient progressed satisfactorily. CONCLUSIONS: Trichosporon asahii is an emergent pathogen in immunosupressed patients and its presence should not be considered as colonization, as there is risk of invasive infection.

Fungemia por Trichosporon asahii en un paciente con neoplasia hematológica / Fungemia due to Trichosporon asahii in a patient with hematological malignancy

Antecedentes. La tricosporonosis es una infección oportunista debida a hongos levaduriformes del género Trichosporon. La mayoría de los casos de tricosporonosis invasiva acontecen en individuos inmunodeficientes. Caso clínico. Describimos un caso de infección diseminada por Trichosporon asahii en un paciente hematológico. Se trata de un varón de 52 años diagnosticado de leucemia linfoblástica aguda que desarrolla un cuadro febril durante el tercer ciclo de quimioterapia de inducción. A las 24 h de incubación se observó positividad en los hemocultivos extraídos, visualizándose en la tinción de Gram estructuras alargadas compatibles con elementos fúngicos. La identificación del hongo como Trichosporon asahii se llevó a cabo mediante la asimilación de compuestos de carbono y la amplificación y secuenciación de los dominios D1/D2 y la región espaciadora interna transcrita del ADN ribosómico. El hongo se aisló además de unas lesiones pustulosas que presentaba el paciente en la región pectoral. Tras tratamiento con anfotericina B, el paciente evolucionó favorablemente de las lesiones y del proceso febril. Conclusiones. Trichosporon asahii es un patógeno emergente en pacientes inmunodeprimidos y su presencia no debe ser considerada como colonización, pues existe riesgo de infección invasiva (AU)

Background. Trichosporonosis is an opportunistic infection caused by the genus Trichosporon. The majority of cases of invasive trichosporonosis occurs in immunocompromised individuals. Case report. We describe a case of disseminated infection by Trichosporon asahii in a hematology patient. A 52-year-old man diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia developed a febrile episode during the third cycle of the induction chemotherapy. The blood cultures were positive after 24 h incubation, showing elongated structures compatible with fungal elements in the Gram stain. The identification of the fungus as Trichosporon asahii was carried out by the assimilation of compounds of carbon and the amplification and sequencing of the D1/D2 domain and the internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal DNA. The fungus was also isolated from the pustular lesions that the patient had in the chest. After treatment with amphotericin B, the patient progressed satisfactorily. Conclusions. Trichosporon asahii is an emergent pathogen in immunosupressed patients and its presence should not be considered as colonization, as there is risk of invasive infection (AU)

Sensibilidad a antifúngicos de especies de Scopulariopsis de origen clínico / Antifungal susceptibility of clinical isolates of Scopulariopsis species

Introducción. Scopulariopsis es un hongo saprofito del suelo. En los últimos años se ha incrementado el número y diversidad de las infecciones causadas por este hongo, incluyendo micosis superficiales e invasoras, y se ha descrito resistencia in vitro a antifúngicos, aunque existe escasa información al respecto. Nuestro objetivo fue establecer la sensibilidad in vitro de especies de origen clínico frente a un amplio número de antifúngicos. Material y métodos. Veintiocho cepas de Scopulariopsis (10 S. brevicaulis, 7 S. koningii, 3 S. acremonium, 3 S. candida, 3 S. flava, 1 S. brumptii y 1 S. fusca) fueron ensayadas mediante el método Sensititre YeastOne y el de microdilución en caldo, para determinar las concentraciones mínimas inhibitorias (CMIs) frente a anfotericina B, fluconazol, itraconazol, posaconazol, voriconazol y 5-fluorocitosina, y las concentraciones mínimas efectivas (CMEs) frente a anidulafungina, caspofungina y micafungina. Resultados. Nuestros datos confirman la alta resistencia in vitro a los antifúngicos de Scopulariopsis. Anidulafungina, caspofungina, micafungina (CMIs ≥8 mg/L), 5-fluorocitosina (CMIs ≥64 mg/L) y fluconazol (CMIs ≥128 mg/L) fueron inactivas para todas las especies. Las CMIs para anfotericina B (rango 2 a ≥8 mg/L) e itraconazol (0,5 a ≥16 mg/L) fueron altas. La mejor actividad se observó para posaconazol y voriconazol (0,5 a ≥8 mg/L). Con el método Sensititre YeastOne se obtuvieron CMIs ligeramente inferiores. Scopulariopsis candida, S. flava y S. fusca, fueron las especies más resistentes; S. acremonium y S. brevicaulis las de CMIs más bajas. Conclusiones. Las CMIs de todos los antifúngicos ensayados fueron elevadas para Scopulariopsis, lo que demuestra que las infecciones causadas por especies de Scopulariopsis podrían no responder al tratamiento. En infecciones graves, voriconazol sería una buena elección para el tratamiento, asociado a anfotericina B (AU)

Introduction. Scopulariopsis is a common soil saprophyte. In the last years the infections caused by Scopulariopsis species have increased, included superficial and invasive mycoses. This fungi has been reported resistant in vitro to some antifungal agents, although there is little information about this. The aim of the study was to establish in vitro antifungal susceptibility of clinical isolates of Scopulariopsis species against to broad-spectrum antifungal agents. Methods. A total of 28 Scopulariopsis strains (10 S. brevicaulis, 7 S. koningii, 3 S. acremonium, 3 S. candida, 3 S. flava, 1 S. brumptii and 1 S. fusca) were tested using Sensititre YeastOne and broth microdilution methods to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole and 5-fluorocytosine, and minimun effective concentration (MECs) to anidulafungin, caspofungin and micafungin. Results. Our data confirm the high in vitro resistance of Scopulariopsis to antifungal agents. Anidulafungin, caspofungin, micafungin (MICs ≥8 mg/L), 5-fluorocytosine (MICs ≥64 mg/L), and fluconazole (MICs ≥128 mg/L) were inactive in vitro in all species. MICs of amphotericin B (range 2 to ≥8 mg/L) and itraconazole (0.5 to ≥16 mg/L) were high. The best antifungal activity was observed for posaconazole and voriconazole (0.5 to ≥8 mg/L). With Sensititre YeastOne method MICs obtained slightly lower. Scopulariopsis candida, S. flava and S. fusca were the most resistant species, while S. acremonium and S. brevicaulis showed the lowest MICs. Conclusions. MICs of all tested antifungal agents for Scopulariopsis were very high. Infections caused by Scopulariopsis species may not respond to antifungal treatment. Voriconazole is the drug of choice for treatment. We consider it appropriate to add amphotericin B in serious infections (AU)