Isolation of keratinophilic fungi from the soil of Greater Tunb, Abu-Musa, and Sirri islands in the Persian Gulf, Iran.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Keratinophilic fungi are among the important groups of fungi living in the soil. This study aimed to isolate and identify keratinophilic fungi from the soil of three Iranian islands, namely Greater Tunb, Abu Musa, and Sirri, located in the Persian Gulf using morphological and molecular (polymerase chain reaction) methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, a total of 60 soil samples were collected from the three islands of Greater Tunb, Abu Musa, and Sirri. The samples were analyzed for the presence of the keratinophilic fungi using a hair baiting technique. Furthermore, the identification of keratinophilic fungi was accomplished through the employment of molecular and sequencing techniques. RESULTS: A total of 130 fungal isolates, including 11 genera with 24 species, were collected. Accordingly, Chrysosporium tropicum (24;18.5%), C. keratinophilum (17; 13.1%), Chrysosporium species (15; 11.5%), Aspergillus species ( 8;6.1%), Aspergillus flavus (8; 6.1%), Penicillium species (8;6.1%), Alternaria spp ( 6; 4.6%), Phoma species (5; 3.8%), Aphanoascus verrucosus (4;3.1%), Fusarium chlamydosporum (4; 3.1%), Aspergillustrreus (4;3.1%), Acremonium species (4; 3.1%), and other fungi( 23; 17.8 %) isolates were identified . All isolates of keratinophilic fungi were isolated from the soils with the pH range of 7-9. CONCLUSION: The results of this study contributed towards a better conceptualization of the incidence pattern of keratinophilic fungi in the regions of Iran. Given that no study has investigated this issue, the findings of the present study can be beneficial for the management of public health surveillance, physicians, and epidemiologists.

In vitro antifungal susceptibility of clinical species belonging to Aspergillus genus and Rhizopus oryzae.

OBJECTIVE: Among filamentous fungal pathogens, Aspergillus spp. and zygomycetes account for highest rates of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients. Recently developed antifungal drugs offer the potential to improve management and therapeutic outcomes of fungal infections. The aim of this study was to analyse the in vitro activities of voriconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin B and caspofungin against clinical isolates of Aspergillus spp. and Rhizopus oryzae. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The in vitro antifungal susceptibility of 54 isolates belonging to different clinical isolates of Aspergillus spp. and R. oryzae was tested for four antifungal agents using a microdilution reference method (CLSI, M38-A2). All isolates were identified by typical colony and microscopic characteristics, and also characterized by molecular methods. RESULTS: Caspofungin (MEC range: 0.008-0.25 and MEC50: 0.0023µg/mL) was the most active drug in vitro against Aspergillus spp., followed by voriconazole (MIC range: 0.031-8 and MIC50: 0.5µg/mL), itraconazole (MIC range: 0.031-16 and MIC50: 0.25µg/mL), and amphotericin B (MIC range: 0.125-4 and MIC50: 0.5µg/mL), in order of decreasing activity. The caspofungin, voriconazole, and itraconazole demonstrated poor in vitro activity against R. oryzae isolates evaluated, followed by amphotericin B. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that caspofungin had good antifungal activity and azole agents had better activity than amphotericin B against Aspergillus species. Although, azole drugs are considered ineffective against R. oryzae. This result is just from a small scale in vitro susceptibility study and we did not take other factors into consideration.

The antagonistic effects of Candida parapsilosis on the growth of Fusarium species and fumonisin production.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fusarium species are avid producers of secondary toxic and carcinogenic metabolites such as fumonisin. Contamination of food and feed products with fumonisin can be hazardous to the health of humans and animals and may lead to agricultural loss. Accordingly, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of Candida parapsilosis on the growth and fumonisin production of Fusarium species. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mycelial growth rate of 26 Fusarium isolates, including F. verticillioides (n=6), F. proliferatum (n=18), F. solani (n=1), and F. oxysporum (n=1), in the presence of 42 C. parapsilosis strains was investigated by pour-plate method. The decline in fumonisin production was measured in co-cultured fungi in coarsely ground maize after four weeks of incubation in the dark at 22°C, using ELISA technique. For data analysis, paired t-test was performed, using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: The mycelial growth and fumonisin production of Fusarium isolates significantly decreased in the presence of C. parapsilosis in comparison with the control cultures (P<0.05). The percentage of mycelial growth inhibition ranged from 56.36% to 74.54%. The minimum and maximum decline in total fumonisin production was 12% and 78%, respectively. F. oxysporum and F. solani were found to be minor fumonisin producers among the studied Fusarium species. On the other hand, a decline was reported in the growth of Fusarium species and fumonisin production in the presence of C. parapsilosis. CONCLUSION: C. parapsilosis showed notable inhibitory activities against Fusarium isolates. Therefore, this fungal species could be considered as a biocontrol agent against the growth and fumonisin production of toxigenic Fusarium species in the future.

Interdigital intertrigo due to Fusarium oxysporum.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fusariosis is a fungal infection often involving the skin. Various species can cause local, focally invasive, or disseminated infections. The routes of entry for Fusarium species include the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, toe nails, trauma to the skin, and indwelling central venous catheter. CASE REPORT: Herein, we present the case of a 35-year-old woman presenting with interdigital intertrigo. The patient had no predisposing factors and she did not take any antifungal agents. Fusiform macroconidia were observed on the slide culture of the fungus. The etiological agent of the infection was identified as Fusarium oxysporum through sequencing of the translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF-1α) gene using the primers EF1 and EF2. CONCLUSION: Fusariosis commonly presents as a severe fungal infection in immunocompromised patients. However, this infection may also occur in immunocompetent patients. Although treatment with amphotericin B is a routine antifungal therapy for fusariosis, many azoles such as cloterimazole can be used topically with fewer side-effects.

A multiplex PCR method for detection of Aspergillus spp. and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in BAL specimens.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was the detection of Aspergillus species and Mycobacterium tuberculosis together in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) using of multiplex PCR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, from September 2012 until June 2013, 100 bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens were collected from patients suspected of tuberculosis (TB). After the direct and culture test, multiplex PCR were utilized in order to diagnose Aspergillus species and M. tuberculosis. Phenol-chloroform manual method was used in order to extract DNA from these microorganisms. Aspergillus specific primers, M. tuberculosis designed primers and beta actin primers were used for multiplex PCR. RESULTS: In this study, by multiplex PCR method, Aspergillus species were identified in 12 samples (12%), positive samples in direct and culture test were respectively 11% and 10%. Sensitivity and specificity of this method in comparison to direct test were respectively 100% and 98.8%, also sensitivity and specificity of this method in comparison to culture test were respectively 100% and 97.7%. In this assay, M. tuberculosis was identified in 8 samples (8%). Mycobacterium-positive samples in molecular method, direct and culture test were respectively 6%, 5% and 7%. Sensitivity and specificity of PCR method in comparison to direct test were 80% and 97.8% also sensitivity and specificity of this method in comparison to culture test was 71.4% and 98.9%. CONCLUSION: In the present study, multiplex PCR method had higher sensitivity than direct and culture test in order to identify and detect Aspergillus, also this method had lower sensitivity for identification of M. tuberculosis, suggesting that the method of DNA extraction was not suitable.

PCR - RFLP patterns for the differentiation of the Fusarium species in virtue of ITS rDNA.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Fusarium species are among the most important fungi in the medical, veterinary and agricultural fields. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, 172 strains of these fungi have been analyzed. The high molecular weight DNAs were extracted from 23 reference strains as well as from 149 isolated Fusarium species. Using the designed nucleotide primers from rDNA of Fusarium species, PCR analysis was performed for the amplification of ITS regions. Afterwards, the location of the effective endonuclease enzymes has been evaluated within approximately 930 bp of rDNA sequence. RESULTS: Through the selected enzymes including; HhaI, MspI, TaqI and FaqI, the mentioned Fusarium species have been divided into 33 groups. The first three enzymes were able to classify Fusarium species into 23 groups of which 19 groups included one member, one group included two members and three groups included three members of the Fusarium species. This study also revealed the possibility in the identification of F. semitectum, F. solani complex, F. pseudograminearum, F. nisikadoi, F. coeruleum and F. acuminatum species by one unique enzyme. In addition, our study indicated the ability of the differentiation of F. Compactum from F. equiseti. CONCLUSION: As Compared to previous studies with more endonuclease enzymes and with limited in identifications, the ITS-RFLP patterns reported here an attempted to evaluate most of the Fusarium species successfully.

Isolation of keratinophilic fungi from soil in Isfahan province, Iran.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiology of keratophilic fungi in Isfahan province, Iran. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present research has been conducted on soil samples collected from 16 townships of Isfahan province. For isolate geophilic dermatophytes and keratinophilic fungi, the keratin baiting technique has been applied. RESULTS: Of 800 soil samples examined, 588 (73.5%) keratinophilic fungi were isolated. The present studied recognized 727 isolates including 16 species of 11 genus, as follows: Chrysosporium keratinophilum (31.4%), C. pannicola (16.9%), C. tropicum (15.4%), Microsporum gypseum (12.4%), Chrysosporium spp. (9.9%), C. indicum (7%), Sepedonium spp. (3.3%), Malbranchia spp. (1%), Trichophyton terrestre (0.8%), T. ajelloi and Paecilomyces lilacinus (0.4%), Engyodontium album and Acremonium spp. (0.3%), Curvularia spp., Fusarium spp. and Ulocladium spp. (0.1%). In this study, E. album was isolated for the first time in this country (Iran). The frequency these keratinophilic fungi are discussed in relation to different agents such as soil pH. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the knowledge of keratophilic fungi in Iran.

Diversity and frequency of Nocardia spp. in the soil of Isfahan province, Iran.

OBJECTIVE: To isolate and identify Nocardia spp. from soil in different regions of Isfahan province in the center of Iran. METHODS: This study was conducted in 32 districts (16 cities and 16 villages) in Isfahan province during two years. A total of 800 soil samples from these regions were studied by using kanamycin. The isolated Nocardia species were examined by gram and acid-fast staining and were identified biochemically and morphologically. The frequency and distribution of Nocardia spp. were determined in relation to different factors such as soil pH and temperate climate. RESULTS: From 153 (19.1%) Nocardia isolates identified, Nocardia asteroids (N. asteroids) complex (45.5%) and Nocardia brasiliensis (N. brasiliensis) (24.7%) were the most frequently isolated species, followed by Nocardia otitidiscaviarum (2.2%), Nocardiopsis dassonvillei, Actinomadura actinomadura (each 1.7%) and Nocardia transvalensis (1.1%) and also unknown spp. (23.0%). In this study, most species (54.4%) of Nocardia, especially N. asteroides complex were isolated from soils with pH: 7.01-8, whereas in pH: 8.01-9 more N. brasiliensis was isolated. The most Nocardia spp. was detected from regions with semi-nomadic and temperate climate (41.1%). CONCLUSIONS: N. asteroids complex is more prevalent in Isfahan province and soil can be a potential source of nocardiosis infections. It is to be considering that climate and soil pH are involved in the frequency and diversity of aerobic Actinomycetes.