ABSTRACT
Wood degrading fungi are often screened for their ability to degrade xenobiotics such as dyes. Dye decoloration by these fungi on solid media could until now only be assessed qualitatively. We here describe a fast quantitative method to screen for dye decoloration on such media. Decoloration of crystal violet (CV), malachite green (MG), orange G (OG), rose bengal (RB) and remazol brilliant blue R (RBBR) by 124 isolates of the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune was quantified with a flatbed scanner and the CIE-L*a*b* model. Colour and intensity changes were calculated with the Euclidean distance formula. More than 10 strains showed high MG decoloration. Isolates 136, 140 and 213 showed superior CV decoloration, while OG was most effectively decolorized by isolates 183, 216 and 227. Six strains showed high RB decoloration with isolate 216 being superior. The latter strain was also highly active on RBBR together with isolates 177 and 227. Together, dye decoloration was highly variable between the 124 isolates but strain 216 showed high activity on 3 out of 5 dyes. The fast screening method described in this paper enables identification of strains effectively decolorizing dyes.
Subject(s)
Coloring Agents/metabolism , Water Decolorization/methods , Xenobiotics/metabolism , Anthraquinones , Azo Compounds , Basidiomycota/metabolism , Biodegradation, Environmental , Fungi/metabolism , Gentian Violet , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Schizophyllum/metabolism , Xenobiotics/chemistryABSTRACT
Fungi dominated the eukaryotic group in the anaerobic sedimentary environment below the ocean floor where they play an essential ecological role. However, the adaptive mechanism of fungi to these anaerobic environments is still unclear. Here, we reported the anaerobic adaptive mechanism of Schizophyllum commune 20R-7-F01, isolated from deep coal-bearing sediment down to ~2 km below the seafloor, through biochemical, metabolomic and transcriptome analyses. The fungus grows well, but the morphology changes obviously and the fruit body develops incompletely under complete hypoxia. Compared with aerobic conditions, the fungus has enhanced branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis and ethanol fermentation under anaerobic conditions, and genes related to these metabolisms have been significantly up-regulated. Additionally, the fungus shows novel strategies for synthesizing ethanol by utilizing both glycolysis and ethanol fermentation pathways. These findings suggest that the subseafloor fungi may adopt multiple mechanisms to cope with lack of oxygen.
Subject(s)
Geologic Sediments/microbiology , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Schizophyllum/physiology , Seawater/microbiology , Amino Acids, Branched-Chain/biosynthesis , Anaerobiosis , Coal/analysis , Ethanol/metabolism , Fermentation , Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal , Genes, Fungal/genetics , Geologic Sediments/chemistry , Schizophyllum/genetics , Schizophyllum/metabolism , Seawater/chemistryABSTRACT
ANTECEDENTES: Schizophyllum commune es un hongo basidiomiceto ampliamente distribuido en la naturaleza. Su papel como responsable de enfermedad en el ser humano ha sido poco conocido, en parte debido a su difícil identificación. La incorporación a los laboratorios de técnicas de espectrometría de masas (MALDI-TOF) y biología molecular ha permitido la descripción de un mayor número de casos. CASO CLÍNICO: En este trabajo presentamos dos casos en los que se identificó S. commune como agente causal de enfermedad: un caso de rinosinusitis crónica en un paciente inmunocompetente y otro caso de infección del seno esfenoidal en un paciente inmunocomprometido. En ambos casos se aisló S. commune. Su identificación fue posible gracias al MALDI-TOF y esta se confirmó en ambos pacientes mediante la amplificación y secuenciación de la región ITS. CONCLUSIONES: Concluimos que S. commune debe ser considerado un posible agente causal de enfermedad micótica. Actualmente, las técnicas de MALDI-TOF y secuenciación son necesarias para su identificación
BACKGROUND: Schizophyllum commune is a basidiomycete fungus which is widely distributed in nature. Its role as responsible for disease in humans is not well known, partly due to its difficult identification. The incorporation of mass spectrometry techniques (MALDI-TOF) and molecular biology to the laboratories has allowed the description of a greater number of cases. CASE REPORT: In this paper, we present two cases in which S. commune was identified as the causative agent of disease: in the first case an immunocompetent patient suffered from chronic rhinosinusitis, and in the second one a sphenoid sinus infection was diagnosed in an immunocompromised patient. In both cases, S. commune was isolated. Its identification was possible by means of MALDI-TOF and this was confirmed in both patients by amplification and sequencing of the ITS region. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, S. commune should be considered a potential causative agent of fungal disease. Currently, MALDI-TOF and sequencing techniques are necessary for its identification
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Aged , Immunocompromised Host , Sinusitis/microbiology , Rhinitis/microbiology , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Mycoses/microbiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Schizophyllum commune is a basidiomycete fungus which is widely distributed in nature. Its role as responsible for disease in humans is not well known, partly due to its difficult identification. The incorporation of mass spectrometry techniques (MALDI-TOF) and molecular biology to the laboratories has allowed the description of a greater number of cases. CASE REPORT: In this paper, we present two cases in which S. commune was identified as the causative agent of disease: in the first case an immunocompetent patient suffered from chronic rhinosinusitis, and in the second one a sphenoid sinus infection was diagnosed in an immunocompromised patient. In both cases, S. commune was isolated. Its identification was possible by means of MALDI-TOF and this was confirmed in both patients by amplification and sequencing of the ITS region. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, S. commune should be considered a potential causative agent of fungal disease. Currently, MALDI-TOF and sequencing techniques are necessary for its identification.
Subject(s)
Maxillary Sinusitis/microbiology , Mycoses/microbiology , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Sphenoid Sinusitis/microbiology , Adult , Aged , Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Drug Resistance, Fungal , Foreign Bodies/complications , Humans , Male , Mucocele/complications , Schizophyllum/drug effects , Schizophyllum/pathogenicityABSTRACT
Schizophyllum commune, a basidiomycete fungus, is a quite rare cause of invasive sinusitis for which no standard treatment has yet been established. We report herein a 59-year-old woman who developed S. commune rhinosinusitis after remission induction chemotherapy for her acute myeloid leukemia. No causative microorganisms were identified in the sinus lavage fluid culture, whereas nucleotide sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region using endoscopic sinus biopsy specimen could confirm the pathogen as S. commune. Liposomal amphotericin B and voriconazole (VRCZ) treatment ameliorated both her clinical symptoms and laboratory findings. The patient was successfully treated with allogeneic stem cell transplantation, under continuous VRCZ administration, without aggravation of S. commune sinusitis. Molecular diagnosis and prompt intervention with suitable antifungal drugs may be crucial to manage this rare infectious complication.
Subject(s)
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/methods , Invasive Fungal Infections/complications , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy , Rhinitis/microbiology , Schizophyllum/pathogenicity , Sinusitis/microbiology , Amphotericin B/therapeutic use , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Humans , Invasive Fungal Infections/diagnosis , Invasive Fungal Infections/drug therapy , Invasive Fungal Infections/microbiology , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/complications , Middle Aged , Molecular Diagnostic Techniques , Rhinitis/complications , Rhinitis/diagnosis , Rhinitis/drug therapy , Schizophyllum/genetics , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Sinusitis/complications , Sinusitis/diagnosis , Sinusitis/drug therapy , Transplantation, Homologous , Treatment Outcome , Voriconazole/therapeutic useSubject(s)
Eye Infections, Fungal/diagnosis , Eye Infections, Fungal/microbiology , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Amphotericin B/therapeutic use , Combined Modality Therapy , Deoxycholic Acid/therapeutic use , Diagnosis, Differential , Drug Combinations , Eye Enucleation , Eye Infections, Fungal/drug therapy , Eye Infections, Fungal/surgery , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Orbital Diseases/diagnosis , Orbital Diseases/drug therapy , Orbital Diseases/microbiology , Orbital Diseases/surgery , Rare Diseases , Sinusitis/diagnosis , Sinusitis/drug therapy , Sinusitis/microbiology , Sinusitis/surgeryABSTRACT
Schizophyllumcommune is an environmental basidiomycetous fungus, causing occasional, predominantly respiratory, infections in humans. Although S. commune is considered an emerging pathogen, some authors pointed out the possibility that the increase in the diagnosed cases may be also due to recent advances in diagnostic technologies now allowing a more prompt and precise identification at the species level. Here we describe the first Italian case of chronic non-invasive fungal rhinosinusitis due to S. commune in an immunocompetent subject and update the literature review on S. commune sinusitis published between 2012-2019. A timely diagnosis is important to avoid local and systemic complications due to infection with this fungus. In our case, prompt identification at species level was only possible with the use of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and confirmed by sequence analysis of ribosomal DNA ITS regions, due to the difficulty in achieving a correct and rapid identification using routine morphological analysis.
Subject(s)
Mycoses/diagnosis , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Sinusitis/diagnosis , Sinusitis/microbiology , Chronic Disease , Face/diagnostic imaging , Face/microbiology , Female , Humans , Immunocompetence , Italy , Middle Aged , Mycoses/microbiology , Schizophyllum/genetics , Schizophyllum/pathogenicity , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
A 42-year-old man with asthma presented in 2007 with chest infiltration and productive cough. Pycnoporus sanguineus and Perenniporia tephropora were repeatedly isolated from sputum and bronchial washing fluids. Because we lacked immunologic evidence, we could not diagnose him with allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) due to these basidiomycetous fungi. At that time, serum-specific IgE and IgG against Schizophyllum commune findings were negative. Inhaled beclomethasone/salmeterol improved his condition. Seven years later, mucous plugs obtained via bronchoscopy at a relapse were compatible with allergic mucin. Because S. commune was isolated from mucous plugs and serum-specific IgG against S. commune turned positive, we diagnosed the patient with ABPM due to S. commune.
Subject(s)
Lung Diseases, Fungal/microbiology , Respiratory Hypersensitivity/microbiology , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Adult , Asthma/complications , Humans , Lung/diagnostic imaging , Lung/pathology , Lung Diseases, Fungal/immunology , Male , Radiography, Thoracic , Sputum/microbiology , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedSubject(s)
Mycoses/veterinary , Osteomyelitis/microbiology , Schizophyllum , Animals , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Dog Diseases/diagnosis , Dog Diseases/drug therapy , Dog Diseases/microbiology , Dogs , Fatal Outcome , Female , Femur/microbiology , Femur/pathology , Mycoses/diagnosis , Mycoses/drug therapy , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Schizophyllum/pathogenicity , Terbinafine/therapeutic useABSTRACT
A 33-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a right-sided facial paralysis and maxillary division (V2, trigeminal nerve) paraesthesia. He had been suffering with upper respiratory tract symptoms in the preceding 2 months, including rhinorrhoea, fever and headache. The patient was otherwise fit and immunocompetent. Urgent radiological investigation revealed extensive fungal sinusitis with sphenoid sinus dehiscence and skull base osteitis. The patient underwent emergency endoscopic sinus surgery revealing concretions and debris in the ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. He was commenced on systemic antifungal therapy and made a full recovery with resolution of his cranial neuropathies. The fungus Schizophyllum commune was isolated and is a rare cause of fungal sinusitis, but with the potential for invasive disease in immunosuppressed individuals.
Subject(s)
Bone Diseases, Infectious/etiology , Cranial Nerve Diseases/etiology , Mycoses/complications , Osteitis/etiology , Sinusitis/complications , Adult , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Bone Diseases, Infectious/complications , Bone Diseases, Infectious/microbiology , Fluconazole/therapeutic use , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Mycoses/diagnosis , Mycoses/microbiology , Mycoses/therapy , Osteitis/microbiology , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Sinusitis/diagnosis , Sinusitis/microbiology , Sinusitis/therapy , Skull Base/diagnostic imaging , Skull Base/microbiology , Skull Base/pathology , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Recently, basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune has been reported as a cause of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis. However, it is rare as a cause of otitis externa. We experienced a very rare case of otitis externa caused by S. commune in a 68-year-old man with a history of chronic otitis media. We performed Gram staining at the first consultation and follow-up treatment and found fungal cells on the smear and treated him with an appropriate antifungal drug. The results of identification and antifungal susceptibility testing obtained in cooperation with clinical microbiologists at other facilities was very important for future treatment planning decisions. Medical practitioners worldwide should introduce a Gram staining tool into their workflow and cooperate closely with clinical microbiologists to achieve antimicrobial stewardship.
Subject(s)
Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis/etiology , Otitis Externa/microbiology , Otitis Media/complications , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Aged , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Antimicrobial Stewardship , Gentian Violet , Humans , Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis/drug therapy , Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis/microbiology , Male , PhenazinesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Schizophyllum commune, a basidiomycetous fungus, is a common invader of rotten wood. This fungus rarely causes mycotic disease in humans, especially cutaneous infection. In this paper, we describe the first case of cutaneous granuloma caused by S. commune in a Chinese woman. CASE PRESENTATION: A 25-year-old female with a two-year history of erythema, papules, nodules, and scales on her sole of left foot was presented to our outpatient center. Samples were obtained by the scraping of lesion and for light microscopy. Hyphae were observed by microscopic examination. We carried out a skin tissue biopsy, which showed multiple granulomatous nodules. Biopsy specimens were also inoculated onto media. After being cultured on SDA at 27 °C for 7 days, spreading-woolly-white colonies grew on the inoculation sites of media containing chloramphenicol only and there,s no other colonies grew. S. commune was identified by morphology methods, biochemical tests, and PCR sequencing. Pathological findings also aided in diagnosing cutaneous fungal granuloma. Oral itraconazole was applied. After 1 month of therapy, rashes on her left foot and pain were improved. CONCLUSION: We describe the first case of cutaneous granuloma caused by Schizophyllum commune, which illustrates the importance of recognizing uncommon pathogenic fungal infections.
Subject(s)
Foot Diseases/diagnosis , Granuloma/diagnosis , Mycoses/diagnosis , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Adult , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , DNA, Fungal/genetics , DNA, Fungal/metabolism , Female , Foot Diseases/drug therapy , Foot Diseases/microbiology , Foot Diseases/pathology , Granuloma/drug therapy , Granuloma/microbiology , Humans , Hyphae/genetics , Hyphae/isolation & purification , Itraconazole/therapeutic use , Microscopy , Mycoses/drug therapy , Mycoses/microbiology , Schizophyllum/genetics , Schizophyllum/growth & developmentABSTRACT
A 63-year-old woman presented to our hospital for cough, sputum, and abnormal shadows on chest X-ray. Schizophyllum commune was isolated from mucous plugs. Positive specific IgE and IgG against the fungi, elevated serum IgE, and mucous plugs with typical histologic findings of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) led to the diagnosis of ABPM due to S. commune. We initially administered itraconazole unsuccessfully. Changing the antifungal agent to voriconazole resulted in improvement of the symptoms and chest imaging findings. Her ABPM has not relapsed for two years since the cessation of voriconazole, which was administered for one year.
Subject(s)
Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis/drug therapy , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Voriconazole/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis/diagnosis , Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis/immunology , Middle Aged , SputumABSTRACT
Central nervous system (CNS) infections due to filamentous basidiomycetes are extremely rare. We encountered a case of epidural abscess due to Schizophyllum commune that extended from sinusitis. A 53-year-old Japanese man presented at our hospital with a headache. Computed tomography (CT) of the cranium and sinuses showed ethmoid and sphenoid sinusitis with no intracranial abnormalities. The patient was diagnosed with acute sinusitis and underwent antibiotic treatment. However, the symptoms deteriorated, and the patient came to our hospital again with consciousness disturbance. CT scan of the cranium and sinuses showed no improvement of sinusitis after antibiotic therapy and an epidural abscess emerged in the middle cranial fossa. Therefore, emergency craniotomy and endoscopic sinus fenestration were performed. Filamentous fungal elements were observed in both rhinorrhoea and epidural abscess. The symptoms improved after the operation and administration of liposomal amphotericin B. The clinical isolate was identified as S. commune by a molecular-based method. To our knowledge, this is the first report of epidural abscess due to this fungus. Although rare, clinicians should be aware that S. commune could be a causative agent of CNS infections.
Subject(s)
Epidural Abscess/microbiology , Mycoses/microbiology , Paranasal Sinuses/microbiology , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Amphotericin B/administration & dosage , Amphotericin B/therapeutic use , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Epidural Abscess/complications , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mycoses/complications , Paranasal Sinuses/diagnostic imaging , Schizophyllum/drug effects , Schizophyllum/genetics , Sinusitis/diagnosis , Sinusitis/drug therapy , Sinusitis/microbiology , Skull/diagnostic imaging , Skull/microbiology , Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed , Treatment OutcomeSubject(s)
Fungemia/epidemiology , Fungemia/microbiology , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Amphotericin B/therapeutic use , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Deoxycholic Acid/therapeutic use , Drug Combinations , Fluconazole/therapeutic use , Fungemia/drug therapy , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Schizophyllum is an important genus of basidiomycetes that, apart from being of genetic and biotechnological interest, is also reported to be a plant and animal pathogen. Schizophyllum commune is the best-known species and the only one reported from clinical specimens thus far, being recovered mainly from the respiratory tract. The aim of this study was to determine the species diversity of 23 clinical isolates of Schizophyllum from the United States using multilocus phylogenetic analysis and their in vitro susceptibilities to six drugs. The markers used for sequencing were the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), a portion of the nuclear large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA, the RNA polymerase II second-largest subunit (RPB2), and the translation elongation factor 1α (EF-1α) gene. The analyses revealed that 22 of the clinical isolates were in the Schizophyllum radiatum clade with high support values and 1 isolate was in the S. commune clade. This is the first report of this species in clinical samples. The two species mentioned above showed very similar morphological features in culture (i.e., white, cottony, unsporulated colonies composed of hyphae with clamp connections), making morphological discrimination between the two impossible. An epitype is designed for S. radiatum, and its sequences have been deposited in GenBank. The antifungal that showed the greatest in vitro activity against the strains tested was shown to be amphotericin B. In general, the strains of S. radiatum showed higher MICs than S. commune.
Subject(s)
Communicable Diseases, Emerging/microbiology , Mycoses/microbiology , Respiratory System/microbiology , Respiratory Tract Infections/microbiology , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Animals , Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , DNA, Fungal/chemistry , DNA, Fungal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Multilocus Sequence Typing , Mycological Typing Techniques , Peptide Elongation Factor 1/genetics , RNA Polymerase II/genetics , Schizophyllum/classification , Schizophyllum/drug effects , Schizophyllum/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNA , United StatesABSTRACT
Fungal keratitis due to Schizophyllum commune is very rare. In this study, we report the clinical and microbiological profile of five patients with fungal keratitis due to S. commune. Direct microscopic examination of corneal scrapings from all five patients showed septate branching hyaline fungal filaments. Similarly, in all five patients Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) plates inoculated with corneal scrapings showed white, cottony colonies on the second day of incubation. Lactophenol cotton blue stained wet preparation of 7-day-old colonies on SDA revealed clamp connections and no spores. The fungus was identified by its characteristic clamp connections, fan-shaped bracket fruiting body with pinkish-grey longitudinally split-radiating gills. The phenotypic identification of one of the five isolates further conformed by ITS sequencing. Treatment outcome was available for two of the five patients; in these two patients, the keratitis resolved with topical natamycin.
Subject(s)
Eye Infections, Fungal/microbiology , Keratitis/microbiology , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Adult , Antifungal Agents/administration & dosage , Cornea/microbiology , Eye Infections, Fungal/drug therapy , Female , Humans , Keratitis/drug therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Natamycin/administration & dosage , Retrospective Studies , Schizophyllum/drug effects , Schizophyllum/genetics , Schizophyllum/physiologyABSTRACT
Chitin/chitosan-glucan complex (ChCsGC) was isolated from Schizophyllum commune (S. commune) and dissolved for the first time in precooled (-15°C) 8wt.% urea/6wt.% NaOH aqueous solution. Novel nonwoven microfiber mats were fabricated by wet-dry-spinning technique and evaluated the mechanical of fabrics mats and surface morphology. Isolated and nonwoven mat were characterized employing FTIR-ATR, Optical microscope, TGA, DSC, H/C NMR, SEM and XRD techniques. According to the physical/chemical characterization measurements we can assumed that, the net and the novel dressing mats have the same chemical structure with slightly changes in the thermal stability for the dressing mats.The biological activity of the nonwoven ChCsGC fabric was tested against different types of bacteria exhibiting excellent antibacterial activity. Cell viability of the plain complex and nonwovens mats were evaluated utilizing mouse fibroblast cell line varying concentrations and treatment time. ChCsGC did not show any cytotoxicity against mouse fibroblast cells and the cell-fabrics interaction was also investigated using fluorescence microscope. The novel ChCsGC nonwovens exhibited excellent surgical wound healing ability when tested using rat models.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Bandages , Chitosan/administration & dosage , Glucans/administration & dosage , Wound Healing/drug effects , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Chitosan/chemistry , Chitosan/isolation & purification , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Glucans/chemistry , Glucans/isolation & purification , Male , Mice , NIH 3T3 Cells , Rats , Schizophyllum/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
To date, Schizophyllum commune infection has been identified in only humans and dogs. A 7-year-old female harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) died after exhibiting corneal opacity, anorexia, and labored respiration. At necropsy, phthisis of the left eyeball was detected, and multiple nodular lesions were observed in the thoracic and abdominal regions, especially in the lung, heart, and lymph nodes. Histopathologically, numerous hyphae were seen in granulomatous lesions in the eyes, lung, heart, and lymph nodules. An isolate on potato dextrose agar from the eyes, lung, and sputum yielded a rapidly growing white woolly mycelia with basidiocarps (fruiting bodies) at 37°C. A suitable temperature for mycelial growth was obtained at 25°C, although sustained growth also occurred at 37°C. The fungal isolate, KH-JPN15-011, had distinctive features including hyphae bearing spicules and clamp connections, which were consistent with the characteristics of basidiomycete fungus. The sequence of the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA showed 99.67% (617 bp) similarity with those of S. commune Phylogenetic analysis showed that the present isolate is most closely related to the samples from the Old World. This is the first report of a fatal disease caused by S. commune in exotic animals. Previously reported human and canine infections have not included granulomatous endophthalmitis and myocarditis. After considering these and previous findings, there is a possibility that S. commune from the Old World may include numerous highly pathogenic strains.
Subject(s)
Mycoses/veterinary , Phoca/microbiology , Schizophyllum/isolation & purification , Animal Structures/pathology , Animals , Cluster Analysis , DNA, Fungal/chemistry , DNA, Fungal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics , Fatal Outcome , Female , Granuloma/pathology , Histocytochemistry , Hyphae/growth & development , Microbiological Techniques , Microscopy , Mycoses/microbiology , Mycoses/pathology , Phylogeny , Schizophyllum/growth & development , Sequence Analysis, DNA , TemperatureABSTRACT
Basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune is a widely distributed cellulolytic fungus that is a well-known pathogen. It can cause a wide range of different infections, and here we describe the first case of otitis externa and a molecularly based identification process.