Zoonotic parasites infecting free-living armadillos from Brazil.

Armadillos are specialist diggers and their burrows are used to find food, seek shelter and protect their pups. These burrows can also be shared with dozens of vertebrate and invertebrate species and; consequently, their parasites including the zoonotics. The aim of this study was to diagnose the presence of zoonotic parasites in four wild-caught armadillo species from two different Brazilian ecosystems, the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) and the Pantanal (wetland). The investigated parasites and their correspondent diseases were: Toxoplasma gondii (toxoplasmosis), Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease), Leishmania spp., (leishmaniasis), Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Paracoccidioidomicosis) and Mycobacterium leprae (Hansen's disease). Forty-three free-living armadillos from Pantanal and seven road-killed armadillos from the Cerrado were sampled. Trypanosoma cruzi DTU TcIII were isolated from 2 out of 43 (4.65%) armadillos, including one of them also infected with Trypanosoma rangeli. Antibodies anti-T. gondii were detected in 13 out of 43 (30.2%) armadillos. All seven armadillos from Cerrado tested positive for P. brasiliensis DNA, in the lungs, spleen, liver fragments. Also, by molecular analysis, all 43 individuals were negative for M. leprae and Leishmania spp. Armadillos were infected by T. cruzi, T. rangeli, P. brasiliensis and presented seric antibodies to T. gondii, highlighting the importance of those armadillos could have in the epidemiology of zoonotic parasites.

Molecular diagnosis of lobomycosis-like disease in a bottlenose dolphin in captivity.

We report the diagnosis and molecular characterization of lobomycosis-like lesions in a captive bottlenose dolphin. The clinical picture and the absence of growth in conventional media resembled the features associated with Lacazia loboi. However sequencing of ribosomal DNA and further phylogenetic analyses showed a novel sequence more related to Paracoccidioides brasilensis than to L. loboi. Moreover, the morphology of the yeast cells differed from those L. loboi causing infections humans. These facts suggest that the dolphin lobomycosis-like lesions might have been be caused by different a different fungus clustered inside the order Onygenales. A successful treatment protocol based on topic and systemic terbinafine is also detailed.

A case of paracoccidioidomycosis: experience with long-term therapy.

We describe long-term therapy for paracoccidioidomycosis occurring in a 61-year-old house-painter from Venezuela. The diagnostic examinations made in South America had shown pulmonary granulomatous lesions and an osteolytic pattern of the left knee that had been considered suspect of malignant disease with an indication for limb amputation. With the aid of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and culture examination we diagnosed an osteomyelitis by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and initiated therapy with itraconazole, 400 mg per day, reduced to 200 mg per day after 2 months. At the end of 2 years of drug therapy, we observed complete regression of the pulmonary lesions and of the osteolytic area of the left knee. Moreover, we have periodically observed our patient to verify his clinical development and he is still in good health. We suggest that this pathology be considered in differential diagnosis of leprosy, tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, and systemic mycoses, even in non-endemic areas.

Determinaçäo da viabilidade do paracoccidioides loboi em biópsias de pacientes portadores de doença de Jorge Lobo / Determination of viability of the paracoccidioides loboi in patients with Jorge Lobo's disease

FUNDAMENTOS - Na doença de Jorge Lobo, devido ao näo cultivo do P. loboi, utiliza-se material obtido de biópsia de pacientes, sendo a determinaçäo da viabilidade imprescindível para os estudos experimentais da doença. OBJETIVOS - Determinar a viabilidade do P. loboi, por meio de diferentes métodos de coloraçäo, e, investigar a influência da temperatura e de diferentes soluçöes na viabilidade do fungo. CASUíSTICA E MÉTODOS - Biópsias de 15 pacientes foram processadas em soluçao salina de 0,85 porcentos (SS), soluçao salina de Hank's (SSH) e soluçäo salina glicerinada a 30 porcentos com vitamina B (SSG). A viabilidade foi determinada no momento da coleta da biópsia (tempo 0), empregando-se os corantes diacetato de fluoresceína-brometo de etídio (DF-BE), lactofenol azul-algodao, azul-tripan e verde-janus. As suspensöes foram mantidas a 4§C, 23§C e 37§C, e a viabilidade foi determinada a cada três dias, utilizando-se a coloraçao DF-BE. RESULTADOS - A viabilidade do P. loboi no tempo 0 variou de 21 a 46 porcentos, utilizando-se a coloraçäo DF-BE. A viabilidade com os demais corantes näo foi satisfatória, devido a dificuldades em separar os fungos viáveis dos näo viáveis. A temperatura de 4§C foi mais eficaz em manter a viabilidade do fungo (até 15 dias). Por outro lado, nenhuma das soluçöes empregadas conseguiu manter a viabilidade do fungo ou favorecer sua multiplicaçao. CONCLUSOES - A determinaçao da viabilidade do P. loboi com DF-BE poderá auxiliar nas tentativas de cultura do fungo, nas inoculaçöes em animais e no controle terapêutico da doença. Além disso, a temperatura parece ser fator importante no crescimento do P. loboi

The primary pulmonary lymph node complex in paracoccidioidomycosis

A case of primary pulmonary lymph node complex in paracoccidioidomycosis is reported.