RESUMO
Abstract Passeriformes and Psittaciformes birds and pigeons (Columba livia) are known to be reservoirs of microorganisms, and their stool allows fungi development. Since accumulated avian excreta can interfere with public health, this study aimed to perform a molecular screening of medically important Candida species in pigeon droppings in public places and birds raised in captivity. Excreta collected from captive birds (3 residences) and pigeons (4 districts) were inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol for Gram staining and subculture on Hicrome® Candida. Three DNA extraction methods were performed for comparison (commercial kit, in-house and by boiling) and PCR to screen 6 clinically important Candida species among the isolates. The correlation between phenotypic and molecular methods was calculated by kappa/K. Only 6 C. parapsilosis (20%) were identified from captive birds' feces among 30 isolates (80% not identified), while pigeons' feces harbored a greater diversity, with the 6 pathogenic species confirmed among 41 isolates: C. albicans (31.70%/13), C. krusei (14.63%/6), C. tropicalis (14.63%/6), C. parapsilosis (17.10%/7), C. glabrata (14.63%/6) and C. guilliermondii (7.31%/3); 100% correlation between tested methods (K = 1) for the first 3 species. Boiling DNA extraction method was fast and efficient to obtain viable DNA from Candida spp. for PCR. Our results indicate that pigeon droppings harbor more potentially pathogenic species than birds in residential captivity, which probably have non-albicans Candida less frequently isolated in infectious processes. The greater availability of nutrients may have contributed to a diversity of Candida spp. in feces from public environments.
RESUMO
Faringotonsilite causada por Streptococcus β-hemolítico afeta principalmente crianças e imunocomprometidos, sendo Streptococcus pyogenes (Grupo A) o agente mais comum em faringotonsilites bacterianas. OBJETIVO: Este trabalho objetivou a busca por Streptococcus β-hemolítico do Grupo A (SBHGA) e Não A (SBHGNA) na orofaringe de indivíduos com necessidades especiais da APAE (Maceió-AL). MÉTODO:Estudo prospectivo com amostras da orofaringe de pacientes com síndrome de Down e outras desordens mentais (teste) e estudantes de escola privada (controle) de 5-15 anos. Culturas em ágar sangue (5%) foram identificadas através dos testes de Gram/catalase e o método de disco difusão com bacitracina/sulfametoxazol-trimetoprim, aplicando-se o teste Chi-quadrado em análises estatísticas. RESULTADOS: Um total de 222 colônias bacterianas foram isoladas em 74 indivíduos da APAE e 65 no grupo controle. No grupo teste, episódios prévios de faringotonsilites foram relatados por 36,49% (27/74) e 9,46% (7/74) foram diagnosticados com sintomas e/ou sinais sugestivos de infecção orofaríngea. Nenhuma amostra de S. pyogenes foi confirmada na APAE, sendo todas identificadas como SBHGNA, com cinco SBHGA no grupo controle. CONCLUSÃO:A identificação precoce de Streptococcus β-hemolítico é importante para o tratamento rápido de faringotonsilites e a ausência de S. pyogenes evita futuras sequelas supurativas ou não supurativas no grupo da APAE.
Pharyngotonsillitis by β-hemolytic Streptococcus mostly affects children and imunocompromissed, being Streptococcuspyogenes (Group A) the most common agent in bacterial pharyngotonsillitis. AIM:This work targeted the research of β-hemolytic Streptococcus Group-A (SBHGA) and No-A (SBHGNA) in the oropharynx of individuals with special health needs from the APAE (Maceió-AL). METHOD: A prospective study with oropharynx samples from patients with Down syndrome and other mental disorders (test) and students from a private school (control) aged 5-15 years. Cultures in blood agar (5%) were identified through Gram/catalase tests and bacitracin/trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole disk diffusion method, applying the chi-squared statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 222 bacterial colonies were isolated in 74 individuals from APAE and 65 in the control group. In the test group, previous episodes of pharyngotonsillitis were reported by 36.49% (27/74) and 9.46% (7/74) were diagnosed with symptoms and/or signs suggestive of oropharynx infection. No positive sample of S. pyogenes was confirmed at APAE, being all samples classified as SBHGNA, with 5 SBHGA in the control group. CONCLUSION: The early identification of β-hemolytic Steptococcus is important for the fast treatment of pharyngotonsillitis and the absence of S. pyogenes avoid future suppurative or not-suppurative sequels in the group from APAE.