First Cases of Feline Sporotrichosis Caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis in Paraguay.

Sporothrix brasiliensis is an emerging fungal pathogen causing cat-transmitted sporotrichosis, an epi-zoonosis affecting humans, cats and dogs in Brazil and now spreading to neighboring South American countries. Here, we report the first two autochthonous cases of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis in Paraguay. The first case was a four-year-old male cat showing several ulcerative lesions, nasal deformity and respiratory symptoms. The second case was a one-year-old male cat showing a single ulcerated lesion, respiratory symptoms and nasal deformity. Both cases were admitted to a veterinary clinic in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. Isolates were recovered from swabs of the two cases. Using molecular methods, the isolates were identified as S. brasiliensis.

Position of Polyclithrum within Gyrodactylidae (Monogenoidea): incongruences between morphological and molecular phylogenies.

This study aimed to enhance our understanding in monogenoid evolution by using morphological and molecular data to determine kinship relationships between species and changes in morphological structures over time. We focused on variations in characteristics among the organisms of the family Gyrodactylidae, concentrating on the phylogenetic position of Polyclithrum with other genera in the family. We collected specimens of Polyclithrum from the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus and Swingleus, and Fundulotrema specimens from mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus in estuarine systems of South Carolina, United States. In addition, we analyzed them and other genera (including e.g., Mormyrogyrodactylus, Gyrodactyloides, and Macrogyrodactylus) using both morphological and molecular (18S rDNA) approaches. We performed phylogenetic trees based on Maximum Parsymony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference, and constructed a character morphological matrix by Parsimony Reconstruction of Ancestral Character States method. Our results suggest a homoplastic origin with evolutionary convergences in characters, revealing that there is inconsistency between our data and previously published works based solely on morphological structures of the group. The homoplasy scenario found in Gyrodactylidae can be a result of the limited set of putative homologous morphological features. However, differences between the phylogenies based on morphology and those based on molecular data may arise from both databases. While morphology remains essential in understanding the evolution of this group, molecular data, otherwise, provide a less biased source of information for constructing phylogenetic hypotheses. Combining these data facilitates a better comprehension of the homologous status of morphological features and to understand Gyrodactylidae evolutionary history.

Promising onychomycosis treatment with hypericin-mediated photodynamic therapy: Case reports.

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis (OM) is a common nail plate disorder caused by dermatophyte molds, yeasts, and non-dermatophyte molds, which use keratin in the nail plate as an energy source. OM is characterized by dyschromia, increased nail thickness, subungual hyperkeratosis, and onychodystrophy, and is typically treated with conventional antifungals despite frequent reports of toxicity, fungal resistance, and OM recurrence. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with hypericin (Hyp) as a photosensitizer (PS) stands out as a promising therapeutic modality. When excited by a specific wavelength of light and in the presence of oxygen, to lead to photochemical and photobiological reactions on the selected targets. METHODS: OM diagnosis was made in three suspected cases, and the causative agents were identified by classical and molecular methods, and confirmed by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Susceptibility of planktonic cells of the clinical isolates to conventional antifungals and PDT-Hyp was evaluated, and photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) of Hyp permeation in nail fragments ex vivo was analyzed. Furthermore, the patients opted to undergo PDT-Hyp treatment and were subsequently followed up. The protocol was approved by the human ethics committee (CAAE, number 14107419.4.0000.0104). RESULTS: The etiological agents of OM in patients ID 01 and ID 02 belonged to the Fusarium solani species complex, being identified as Fusarium keratoplasticum (CMRP 5514) and Fusarium solani (CMRP 5515), respectively. For patient ID 03, the OM agent was identified as Trichophyton rubrum (CMRP 5516). PDT-Hyp demonstrated a fungicidal effect in vitro, with reductions of p3 log10 (p < 0.0051 and p < 0.0001), and the PAS analyses indicated that Hyp could completely permeate through both healthy and OM-affected nails. After four sessions of PDT-Hyp, mycological cure was observed in all three cases, and after seven months, clinical cure was confirmed. CONCLUSION: PDT-Hyp showed satisfactory results in terms of efficacy and safety, and thus can be considered a promising therapy for the clinical treatment of OM.

Neotropical Monogenoidea 64. Cosmetocleithrum falsunilatum sp. n. (Monogenoidea, Dactylogyridae) parasite of the gills of Megalodoras uranoscopus (Siluriformes, Doradidae) from the Solimões river, near Iquitos, Peru.

Megalodoras uranoscopus (Eigenmann & Eigenmann) (Siluriformes, Doradidae) (the giant-talking catfish or the giant-raphael catfish), from the Peruvian Amazon, hosts a new species of Cosmetocleithrum described herein as Cosmetocleithrum falsunilatum sp. n. The male copulatory organ of the new species closely resembles that of Unilatus spp. - with multiple tight loops and non-articulated accessory piece - which reveals its morphological uniqueness among members of Cosmetocleithrum. A phylogenetic analysis using 28S rDNA of available sequences suggests that Cosmetocleithrum is composed by two basal clades, one of them composed by sequences of the new species and C. trachydorasi.

I See Golden Mussel! They are Everywhere! Environmental DNA Supports Widespread Dissemination of Limnoperna fortunei in Hydrographic Basins in the Paraná State, Brazil

Abstract The golden mussel is an aquatic invasive species that was introduced in South America in the '90s, including Brazil, and was firstly registered in 2001 in the Paraná state. This bivalve causes macrofouling issues because adhere in substrates and form dense aggregations, affecting especially hydroelectric power plants, and water treatment facilities, apart from the native biodiversity. The present research aimed to diagnose the distribution of Limnoperna fortunei in the Paraná state using environmental DNA (eDNA) from 174 sites from 12 basins, and scientific and technical previous records. L. fortunei eDNA was found in 90 sites from 11 hydrographic basins sampled. Most of the positive samples were detected in Iguaçu (42), Tibagi (15), and Ivaí (10) rivers basins. We also registered the first occurrence for five basins: Cinzas, Itararé, Ivaí, Pirapó e Ribeira rivers. Together, our and previous data recorded L. fortunei in 118 sites, between adult, larvae, and eDNA detection. Moreover, the results evidenced that eDNA is a low coast and reliable tool, and it may be very recommended for L. fortunei early detection and diagnosis. The present research was the greatest and most widespread survey for golden mussel prospection in a state in Brazil, supported a worrying scenario for Parana, with the urgent need for intense and continuous monitoring and prevention actions for controlling and mitigation of the L. fortunei impacts.

Two new species of Gyrodactylus von Nordmann, 1832 (Monogenoidea: Gyrodactylidae) parasitizing introduced poeciliids in Patagonia.

Gyrodactylus superbus (Szidat, 1973) Popazoglo Boeger, 2000 was described from Corydoras paleatus (Jenyns) (Callichthyidae) and represents the only known viviparous gyrodactylid reported from the Parano-Platense basin of Argentina. We describe two new species of viviparous neotropical gyrodactylids parasitizing the introduced poeciliid, Cnesterodon decemmaculatus (Jenyns, 1842) (Poeciliidae), from southern Argentina: Gyrodactylus decemmaculati n. sp. and Gyrodactylus breviradix n. sp. The new species differ from other gyrodactylids parasitizing poeciliids in the morphology of superficial bars and hooklets. Gyrodactylus decemmaculati n. sp. has a superficial bar with two robust and rounded anterolateral projections (each with a ventral lobe), and a subtriangular shield, and has a slender hooklet with a delicate recurved point, a straight, elongate shaft, and a depressed, acute toe. Gyrodactylus breviradix n. sp. has a superficial bar with two robust, elongate anterolateral projections, folded inward, and a trapezoidal shield, and has a hooklet with a short point, angled at 90º, ending before level of toe tip, a straight, short shaft, a round, prominent heel, and a pointed, depressed toe. These identifications were supported by DNA analyses based on sequences of the ITS2 region and a barcoding gap analysis. Sequences of the Cytochrome oxidase II gene and fragments of the Internal Transcribed Spacers 1 for both species are also provided.

Gyrodactylus lilianae n. sp. (Polyonchoinea: Gyrodactylidae) from Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard) (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) from southern Brazil: a potential nuisance for aquaculture.

Species of Monogenoidea (Platyhelminthes) are in its majority ectoparasites of marine and freshwater fishes. Many species of the group can promote great economic losses to fish production systems worldwide. The present study describes a new species, Gyrodactylus lilianae n. sp., from the body surface, fins and barbels of a captive South American catfish, Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard) (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) from southern Brazil. The new species is morphologically similar to Neotropical species of Gyrodactylus von Nordmann, 1832 from Siluriformes from which it differs most conspicuously by the morphology of the hook with a pronounced convex heel, somewhat depressed, slightly pointed toe, and a small distal bulb. The identity of the new species is also strongly supported by phylogenetic analysis based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 mitochondrial gene (cox2) sequences and the rDNA fragment ITS1-5.8-ITS2. Infections with the new species in captive R. quelen juveniles were considered the main causative agent of observed mortalities. Tissue damage caused by G. lilianae n. sp. apparently facilitated the occurrence of secondary infections by protists (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) and bacteria (Aeromonas hydrophila).

Drivers of parasite sharing among Neotropical freshwater fishes.

Because host-parasite interactions are so ubiquitous, it is of primary interest for ecologists to understand the factors that generate, maintain and constrain these associations. Phylogenetic comparative studies have found abundant evidence for host-switching to relatively unrelated hosts, sometimes related to diversification events, in a variety of host-parasite systems. For Monogenoidea (Platyhelminthes) parasites, it has been suggested that the co-speciation model alone cannot explain host occurrences, hence host-switching and/or non-vicariant modes of speciation should be associated with the origins and diversification of several monogenoid taxa. The factors that shape broad patterns of parasite sharing were investigated using path analysis as a way to generate hypotheses about the origins of host-parasite interactions between monogenoid gill parasites and Neotropical freshwater fishes. Parasite sharing was assessed from an interaction matrix, and explanatory variables included phylogenetic relationships, environmental preferences, biological traits and geographic distribution for each host species. Although geographic distribution of hosts and host ecology are important factors to understand host-parasite interactions, especially within host lineages that share a relatively recent evolutionary history, phylogeny had the strongest overall direct effect on parasite sharing. Phylogenetic contiguity of host communities may allow a 'stepping-stone' mode of host-switching, which increases parasite sharing. Our results reinforce the importance of including evolutionary history in the study of ecological associations, including emerging infectious diseases risk assessment.