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Mohammed R, Nader SM, Hamza DA, Sabry MA. Horse: a potential source of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in Egypt. BMC Vet Res 2022; 18:17. [PMID: 34983525 PMCID: PMC8725405 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-03127-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic mycozoonosis of global significance in a wide variety of host species. In equines, cryptococcosis is uncommon, and sporadic cases have been reported with rhinitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, and meningitis. Cryptococcus spp. represents a potential risk for immunosuppressed and healthy persons. In Egypt, epidemiological data on cryptococcal infection in horses are limited. The current study was carried out to investigate the occurrence of Cryptococcus spp. in horses and its possible role in the epidemiology of such disease in Egypt. A total of 223 samples was collected from different localities in Egypt included 183 nasal swabs from horses, 28 nasal swabs from humans, and 12 soil samples. Bacteriological examination and the identification of Cryptococcus spp. were performed. Molecular serotyping of Cryptococcus spp. was determined by multiplex PCR using CNa-70S/A-CNb-49S/A. The virulence genes (LAC1, CAP59, and PLB1) of the identified isolates were detected by PCR. Moreover, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the C. gattii gene from horses, humans, and soil isolates found nearby were performed. Result The overall occurrence of Cryptococcus spp. in horses were 9.3, 25, and 10.7% in horses, the soil, and humans, respectively. Molecular serotyping of the Cryptococcus spp. isolates recovered from the nasal passages of horses proved that C. gattii (B), C. neoformans, and two hybrids between C. neoformans (A) and C. gattii (B) were identified. Meanwhile, in case of soil samples, the isolates were identified as C. gattii (B). The human isolates were serotyped as C. gattii in two isolates and C. neoformans in only one isolate. Molecular detection of some virulence genes (LAC1), (CAP59), and (PLB1) were identified in both C. gattii and C. neoformans isolates. The C. gattii gene amplicons of the isolates from horses, humans, and the soil were closely related. Conclusion This study provides the first insights into the Egyptian horse ecology of Cryptococcus species and highlights the role of horses as asymptomatic carriers in disseminating the potentially pathogenic Cryptococcus spp. It also presents the possible risk of cryptococcosis infection in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahma Mohammed
- Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt
| | - Sara M Nader
- Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt
| | - Dalia A Hamza
- Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt.
| | - Maha A Sabry
- Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt
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Cuetara MS, Jusdado Ruiz-Capillas JJ, Nuñez-Valentin MP, Rodríguez Garcia E, Garcia-Benayas E, Rojo-Amigo R, Rodriguez-Gallego JC, Hagen F, Colom MF. Successful Isavuconazole Salvage Therapy for a Cryptococcus deuterogattii (AFLP6/VGII) Disseminated Infection in a European Immunocompetent Patient. Mycopathologia 2021; 186:507-518. [PMID: 34115285 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-021-00566-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Members of the Cryptococcus gattii species complex are notorious causes of cryptococcosis as they often cause severe, life-threatening infections. Here we describe a case of a severe disseminated C. deuterogattii infection in a previously healthy patient who was initially treated with amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine and fluconazole, which led to a good neurological response, but the infection in the lungs remained unaltered and was not completely resolved until switching the antifungal therapy to isavuconazole. The infection was likely acquired during a one-month stay at the Azores Islands, Portugal. Environmental sampling did not yield any cryptococcal isolate; therefore, the source of this apparent autochthonous case could not be determined. Molecular typing showed that the cultured C. deuterogattii isolates were closely related to the Vancouver Island outbreak-genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Soledad Cuetara
- Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Avda. de Orellana S/N. 28914, Leganés, Madrid, Spain.
| | | | | | | | - Elena Garcia-Benayas
- Department of Pharmacy, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Rojo-Amigo
- Department of Immunology, Hospital Materno-Infantil-CHUAC, La Coruña, Spain
| | | | - Ferry Hagen
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - María Francisca Colom
- Medical Mycology Laboratory, Department of Plant Production and Microbiology, University Miguel Hernández, Campus of Sant Joan D'Alacant, 03550, Alicante, Spain. .,Institute for Healthcare and Biomedical Research of Alicante, Isabial, Spain.
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3
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Yu J, Guo M, Jiang W, Yang M, Pang X. Assessment of the Microbiome and Potential Aflatoxin Associated With the Medicinal Herb Platycladus orientalis. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:582679. [PMID: 33193220 PMCID: PMC7644961 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.582679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Platycladi Semen, which is derived from the dried ripe seed of Platycladus orientalis, has been used for the treatment of insomnia and constipation in China for 2000 years. However, it is susceptible to fungal and aflatoxin contamination under proper humidity and temperature during storage. Although aflatoxin contamination in Platycladi Semen has been reported preliminarily, few studies have been conducted on fungal infection and aflatoxin contamination simultaneously. Thus, this work aims to provide an in-depth understanding of fungal contamination in Platycladi Semen, and information on aflatoxin contamination. We focused on a comparison of the difference in fungal diversity between aflatoxin-contaminated and aflatoxin-free Platycladi Semen samples. First, aflatoxin levels in 11 Platycladi Semen samples, which were collected from local herbal markets in Shandong, Anhui, and Hebei provinces throughout China, were determined by IAC-HPLC-FLD, and positive confirmation of detected samples was performed by LC-MS/MS. The samples were divided into two groups, based on production or non-production of aflatoxin. We then used the Illumina MiSeq PE250 platform, and targeted the internal transcribed spacer two sequences to analyze the diversity and composition of the fungal microbiome, as well as to assess the presence of potential mycotoxin-producing fungi. Results showed that five samples were contaminated with aflatoxins, one of which exceeded the legal limits of Chinese Pharmacopeia Commission (2015). At the phylum level, the Ascomycota was the most dominant in all tested samples, with a relative abundance of 83.04–99.46%. Aspergillus (27.88–97.28%), Xerochrysium (0–28.49%), and Xeromyces (0–22.24%) were the three predominant genera. Furthermore, differences in fungal composition between the aflatoxin-contaminated and aflatoxin-free groups, as well as between different provinces were observed. A total of 74 species were identified, and four potential mycotoxin-producing fungi were detected in all samples, namely Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium poae, and Penicillium steckii. In conclusion, we report the great diversity of fungi associated with Platycladi Semen, highlight the risk to consumers of ingesting potent aflatoxin, and provide a reference for the safe application and quality improvement of Platycladi Semen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingsheng Yu
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Mengyue Guo
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjun Jiang
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Meihua Yang
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohui Pang
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
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Huang C, Tsui CKM, Chen M, Pan K, Li X, Wang L, Chen M, Zheng Y, Zheng D, Chen X, Jiang L, Wei L, Liao W, Cao C. Emerging Cryptococcus gattii species complex infections in Guangxi, southern China. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008493. [PMID: 32845884 PMCID: PMC7449396 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence and spread of cryptococcosis caused by the Cryptococcus gattii species complex has become a major public concern worldwide. C. deuterogattii (VGIIa) outbreaks in the Pacific Northwest region demonstrate the expansion of this fungal infection to temperate climate regions. However, infections due to the C. gattii species complex in China have rarely been reported. In this study, we studied eleven clinical strains of the C. gattii species complex isolated from Guangxi, southern China. The genetic identity and variability of these isolates were analyzed via multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and the phylogenetic relationships among these isolates and global isolates were evaluated. The mating type, physiological features and antifungal susceptibilities of these isolates were also characterized. Among the eleven isolates, six belonged to C. deuterogattii, while five belonged to C. gattii sensu stricto. The C. deuterogattii strains from Guangxi, southern China were genetically variable and clustered with different clinical isolates from Brazil. All strains were MATα, and three C. deuterogattii isolates (GX0104, GX0105 and GX0147) were able to undergo sexual reproduction. Moreover, most strains had capsule and were capable of melanin production when compared to the outbreak strain from Canada. Most isolates were susceptible to antifungal drugs; yet one of eleven immunocompetent patients died of cryptococcal meningitis caused by C. deuterogattii (GX0147). Our study indicated that the highly pathogenic C. deuterogattii may be emerging in southern China, and effective nationwide surveillance of C. gattii species complex infection is necessary. Cryptococcosis is a fatal systemic fungal disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii species complexes. As a former member of the C. neoformans, C. gattii had been easily neglected before being elevated to species level. Human C. gattii species complex infection was previously confined to the tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. However, in 1999, an outbreak of C. gattii species complex occurred on Vancouver Island in Canada then expanded to the Pacific Northwest in the USA, causing over 200 infections. The highly virulent, highly pathogenic and more resistant to antifungal drugs of this species have become a therapeutic problem. To initiate a better understanding of the infection characteristics and pathogenicity of C. gattii species complex in Guangxi, southern China, the current study aimed to characterize the C. gattii species complex isolates genetically and phenotypically. The ISHAM consensus MLST scheme was utilized to investigate the genetic structure of C. gattii species complex and to correlate their geographic origin, clinical source, virulence factors and antifungal susceptibility. The authors expect that this work can support surveillance and encourage more research and public health initiatives to prevent and control the cryptococcosis cause by C. gattii species complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyang Huang
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Clement K. M. Tsui
- Department of Pathology, Sidra Medicine, Qatar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, Doha, Qatar
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Min Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Department of Dermatology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Kaisu Pan
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Xiuying Li
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Linqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Meini Chen
- Clinical Medicine (8-year program), XiangYa School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Yanqing Zheng
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Dongyan Zheng
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Xingchun Chen
- The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Lili Wei
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Wanqing Liao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Department of Dermatology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- * E-mail: (WL); (CC)
| | - Cunwei Cao
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, P. R. China
- * E-mail: (WL); (CC)
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Samarasinghe H, Aljohani R, Jimenez C, Xu J. Fantastic yeasts and where to find them: the discovery of a predominantly clonal Cryptococcus deneoformans population in Saudi Arabian soils. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2020; 95:5538757. [PMID: 31344232 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiz122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus deneoformans is an opportunist yeast pathogen and causative agent of meningoencephalitis in humans. It is known to be mainly distributed in temperate climates. Most of our current understanding of this species has come from clinical isolates, leaving environmental populations largely unexplored. The Middle East remains one such underexplored area with no published study to date investigating cryptococcal diversity in soil. In this study, we identified 76 C. deneoformans isolates from a survey of 562 soil samples collected from six cities in Saudi Arabia. Multilocus sequence typing revealed the presence of two major sequence types (STs), ST160 (n = 63) and ST294 (n = 9), along with four singleton STs, three of which were novel. One novel ST, ST613, was likely a recombinant product between ST160 and ST294. Among the 76 isolates, 75 belonged to mating type (MAT)α while one isolate was MATa. Our analyses suggest that the Saudi Arabian C. deneoformans population likely reproduces both asexually and sexually in nature. Our study is the first to report the occurrence of C. deneoformans in a desert climate, representing a novel expansion to this species' currently known ecological niche.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Renad Aljohani
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Carlene Jimenez
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jianping Xu
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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