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Filek K, Vuković BB, Žižek M, Kanjer L, Trotta A, Di Bello A, Corrente M, Bosak S. Loggerhead Sea Turtles as Hosts of Diverse Bacterial and Fungal Communities. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2024; 87:79. [PMID: 38814337 PMCID: PMC11139726 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-024-02388-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Research on microbial communities associated with wild animals provides a valuable reservoir of knowledge that could be used for enhancing their rehabilitation and conservation. The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is a globally distributed species with its Mediterranean population categorized as least concern according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as a result of robust conservation efforts. In our study, we aimed to further understand their biology in relation to their associated microorganisms. We investigated epi- and endozoic bacterial and endozoic fungal communities of cloaca, oral mucosa, carapace biofilm. Samples obtained from 18 juvenile, subadult, and adult turtles as well as 8 respective enclosures, over a 3-year period, were analysed by amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and ITS2 region of nuclear ribosomal gene. Our results reveal a trend of decreasing diversity of distal gut bacterial communities with the age of turtles. Notably, Tenacibaculum species show higher relative abundance in juveniles than in adults. Differential abundances of taxa identified as Tenacibaculum, Moraxellaceae, Cardiobacteriaceae, and Campylobacter were observed in both cloacal and oral samples in addition to having distinct microbial compositions with Halioglobus taxa present only in oral samples. Fungal communities in loggerheads' cloaca were diverse and varied significantly among individuals, differing from those of tank water. Our findings expand the known microbial diversity repertoire of loggerhead turtles, highlighting interesting taxa specific to individual body sites. This study provides a comprehensive view of the loggerhead sea turtle bacterial microbiota and marks the first report of distal gut fungal communities that contributes to establishing a baseline understanding of loggerhead sea turtle holobiont.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Filek
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Borna Branimir Vuković
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marta Žižek
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Lucija Kanjer
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Adriana Trotta
- Campus Universitario, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, BA, Italy
| | - Antonio Di Bello
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Str. Prov. Per Casamassima Km 3, 70010, Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Marialaura Corrente
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Str. Prov. Per Casamassima Km 3, 70010, Valenzano, BA, Italy
| | - Sunčica Bosak
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
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Leschke D. A novel case of cutaneous, nasal and systemic fusariosis in a goat. Aust Vet J 2024; 102:74-79. [PMID: 38049199 DOI: 10.1111/avj.13301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
The clinical findings associated with nasal, cutaneous and systemic fusariosis in a 3-year-old billy Boer goat are summarised. The clinical features, treatment, postmortem findings and laboratory diagnostics are reported and discussed in the context of existing knowledge on mycoses of small ruminants. The goat presented primarily for respiratory signs (inspiratory dyspnoea) with unilateral left-sided mucopurulent nasal discharge, and multifocal variably ulcerative and necrotic cutaneous nodules. Histopathology of nasal and cutaneous biopsies revealed necrotising pyogranulomatous inflammation with intralesional septate hyphal elements that correlated with culture of Fusarium oxysporum. The patient continued to deteriorate clinically during treatment with oxytetracycline and meloxicam, with the addition of sodium iodide and potassium iodide, and was humanely euthanased. Postmortem examination revealed multifocal nodular lesions throughout the kidneys, abdominal lymph nodes and lungs. These lesions were consistent with those identified antemortem from which F. oxysporum was cultured. Although treatment was unsuccessful, to the author's knowledge, no instance of rhinofacial or systemic caprine infection with Fusarium spp. has been documented in the veterinary literature, making this the first recognised instance of this form of infection in small ruminant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhz Leschke
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
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Zhou PS, Dermarkarian CR, Andrade RM, Tao JP. Infection of a Nylon Foil Orbital Implant Due to Fusarium brachygibbosum and Lomentospora prolificans After Intranasal Methamphetamine Use. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg 2024; 40:e25-e28. [PMID: 37791833 DOI: 10.1097/iop.0000000000002527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
The authors describe a case of nylon foil implant infection caused by Fusarium brachygibbosum , and Lomentospora prolificans following medial orbital wall fracture repair in the setting of postoperative nasal methamphetamine use. A 61-year-old male presented with OS pain and swelling after a physical assault on his face. A CT of maxillofacial bones without contrast showed a moderately comminuted fracture of the medial wall of the left orbit with depression of fracture fragments into the left ethmoid air cells. Six days after repair of the medial wall fracture, the patient returned with a new onset headache, OS pain, and swelling to the left medial canthal area. He reported snorting methamphetamine approximately 48 hours before his current presentation. CT imaging showed fat stranding and soft tissue density in the extraconal space adjacent to the left medial rectus muscle and chronic fracture deformity of lamina papyracea with approximately 4 mm of medial displacement of the fracture fragments. The patient showed little clinical improvement after 48 hours of intravenous antibiotics, which led to the removal of the nylon foil implant by a left orbitotomy. Intraoperative tissue cultures grew coagulase-negative Staphylococcus , F. brachygibbosum , and Lomentospora (Scedosporium) prolificans . The patient was subsequently transitioned to oral clindamycin 600 mg three times daily and voriconazole 200 mg two times daily. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report to document an association between snorted methamphetamine and a fungal infection of an orbital implant.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rosa M Andrade
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California, U.S.A
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Cañizares-Cooz D, García-Párraga D, Plá-González E, Rojo-Solis C, Encinas T, Morón-Elorza P. Fungal Diseases in Elasmobranchs and Their Possible Treatment with a Special Mention to Azole Antifungal Agents. Animals (Basel) 2023; 14:43. [PMID: 38200774 PMCID: PMC10778029 DOI: 10.3390/ani14010043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Elasmobranchs currently constitute an important part of the animal collection of many aquariums worldwide. Their maintenance under human care has allowed us to describe and identify new pathogens and diseases affecting them, as well as to determine different treatments for these diseases. Great advances in elasmobranch husbandry have been developed. METHODS A search was performed on scientific databases as PubMed and other specialized sources (IAAAM archive). RESULTS Little information on pharmacotherapeutics is available in this taxonomic group, and treatments lack a scientific base and instead are frequently dependent on empirical knowledge. Pharmacokinetic studies are the first step to determining therapeutic protocols that are safe and effective. The available bibliography shows that a majority of the mycoses recorded in cartilaginous fish are severe, aggravated by the fact that the antifungal treatments administered, following the guidelines used for teleost species, are ineffective in elasmobranchs. Azoles appear to be a promising group of antifungals for use in treating systemic mycoses in sharks and rays. CONCLUSIONS Based on the findings of this review, it is essential to investigate the pharmacokinetics of the different antifungals in these species in order to provide therapeutic options for fungal infections in cartilaginous fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Cañizares-Cooz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Av. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (T.E.); (P.M.-E.)
| | - Daniel García-Párraga
- Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera (Científic) 1B, 46013 Valencia, Spain; (D.G.-P.); (E.P.-G.)
- Veterinary Services, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera (Científic) 1B, 46013 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Emma Plá-González
- Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera (Científic) 1B, 46013 Valencia, Spain; (D.G.-P.); (E.P.-G.)
| | - Carlos Rojo-Solis
- Veterinary Services, Oceanogràfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera (Científic) 1B, 46013 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Teresa Encinas
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Av. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (T.E.); (P.M.-E.)
| | - Pablo Morón-Elorza
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Av. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (T.E.); (P.M.-E.)
- Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera (Científic) 1B, 46013 Valencia, Spain; (D.G.-P.); (E.P.-G.)
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Capri FC, Prazzi E, Casamento G, Gambino D, Cassata G, Alduina R. Correlation Between Microbial Community and Hatching Failure in Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 86:1923-1933. [PMID: 36805785 PMCID: PMC10497424 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02197-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microbial communities provide essential information about host ecology and could be helpful as a tool to improve species conservation efforts. However, microbes can also infect and compromise the host development process and viability. Caretta caretta is the most widespread marine turtle species in the Mediterranean basin and is the only species of sea turtle nesting along the Italian coasts. Little is known about the microbiota composition of the nest of sea turtles and its correlation with hatching failures. In this study, the microbial composition of two nests of C. caretta featuring different rates of hatching success from a nesting beach in Lampedusa (Italy) was analyzed and compared. The bacterial community was determined using culture-dependent methods and next-generation sequencing based on 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding analysis. Our results showed five dominant bacterial phyla (Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Firmicutes) and indicated different bacterial families (Pseudomonadaceae and Brucellaceae) as likely causes of hatching failures. Besides, our findings demonstrated the nests' active role in modulating the sand's bacterial communities. This study suggests microbiological analysis could be a valuable tool in monitoring nests to take preventive actions and reduce hatching failures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Claire Capri
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Viale delle Scienze, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Elena Prazzi
- Legambiente Sicilia-Ente Gestore Riserva Naturale Orientata Isola di Lampedusa, Via Vittorio Emanuele, 25, 92031 Lampedusa, AG Italy
| | - Giulia Casamento
- Legambiente Sicilia-Ente Gestore Riserve Naturali, via Paolo Gili,4, 90138 Palermo, PA Italy
| | - Delia Gambino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, Via G. Marinuzzi, 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cassata
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, Via G. Marinuzzi, 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosa Alduina
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Viale delle Scienze, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
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Nardoni S, Mancianti F. Mycotic Diseases in Chelonians. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9050518. [PMID: 37233230 DOI: 10.3390/jof9050518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Turtles and 'tortoises' populations are declining in number, the factors driving extinction risks being related to habitat loss and degradation, climate change, introduction of invasive plant and animal species, consumption by humans for food and medicinal use, and collection for international pet trade. Fungal infections represent one of the main threats for ecosystem health. The present narrative review deals with conventional and emerging mycoses of Chelonians. Although conventional mycoses in captive and pet reptiles would depend on poor husbandry, being the agents mostly opportunistic pathogens, some fungal species were reported to occur more frequently, such as the entomopathogen Purpureocillium lilacinum. Furthermore, emerging agents such as the Fusarium solani species complex have been recognized as a real threat for the surviving of some aquatic species, acting as primary pathogens. This complex has been recently included within pathogens in One Health issues. Emydomyces testavorans is recognized as an emerging threat, although, due its recent identification, information about its epidemiology is limited. Data about treatments and outcomes of mycoses in Chelonians are also referred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Nardoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancianti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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Pietroluongo G, Centelleghe C, Sciancalepore G, Ceolotto L, Danesi P, Pedrotti D, Mazzariol S. Environmental and pathological factors affecting the hatching success of the two northernmost loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nests. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2938. [PMID: 36806250 PMCID: PMC9941489 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30211-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the report of loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Mediterranean nesting range has expanded together with new records of nests becoming northward on the Italian coastline of the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic seas. These areas are characterized by intensive human activities, such as tourism, fishery, and marine traffic, all possibly involved in the influence of the use of coastal habitat by marine species. These anthropic threats, in addition to the natural ones and the changing environmental characteristics of the beach, may influence the growth of microorganisms causing hatching failures. Among microorganisms, fungal infection by the genus Fusarium (Link, 1809) is considered one of the main causes of globally declining sea turtle populations. In summer 2021, the two northernmost worldwide loggerhead sea turtle nests were monitored along the Northern Adriatic coastline (Veneto, Italy). These first records may potentially candidate this area as suitable for a large part of the loggerhead turtle's life cycle and it could represent a minor sea turtle nesting area that, according to Prato and colleagues, remained unnoticed due to the lack of specific monitoring. Sea Turtle Egg Fusariosis (STEF) was deemed to have deeply compromised the hatching success of the northmost one. Climate change and anthropogenic impacts have been scored as one of the highest hazards to sea turtle health and could have played a role in the STEF development. Environmental changes, human activities, and emerging pathogens deserve the highest attention in terms of health research, and conservation management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giudo Pietroluongo
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Cinzia Centelleghe
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020, Legnaro, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Sciancalepore
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Luca Ceolotto
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Patrizia Danesi
- grid.419593.30000 0004 1805 1826Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Davide Pedrotti
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Sandro Mazzariol
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
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Guo Y, Chen H, Liu P, Wang F, Li L, Ye M, Zhao W, Chen J. Microbial composition of carapace, feces, and water column in captive juvenile green sea turtles with carapacial ulcers. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:1039519. [PMID: 36590814 PMCID: PMC9797667 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1039519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Green sea turtles are endangered marine reptiles. Carapacial ulcers will develop on juvenile green sea turtles during artificial rescue, seriously affecting their health and potentially leading to death. Methods To determine the pathogens causing ulcerative carapacial disease, we performed 16S and ITS high-throughput sequencing, and microbial diversity analysis on samples from carapacial ulcers, healthy carapaces, feces, and seawater of juvenile green sea turtles. Results Our analysis showed that changes in microbial diversity of green sea turtle feces and seawater were not significantly associated with ulcerative carapacial disease. Discussion Psychrobacter sp. is the dominant species in the carapacial ulcers of green sea turtles. The bacterium is present in both healthy turtles and seawater where carapacial ulcers did not occur and decreasing seawater temperatures are likely responsible for the infection of juvenile green turtles with Psychrobacter sp. This is the first study on carapacial ulcers in captive juvenile green sea turtles. Our research provides theoretical guidance for the prevention and control of carapacial ulcers in captive juvenile green sea turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yide Guo
- College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hualing Chen
- Huidong Sea Turtle National Reserve Management Bureau, Sea Turtle Bay, Huidong, Guangdong, China
| | - Ping Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Fumin Wang
- Huidong Sea Turtle National Reserve Management Bureau, Sea Turtle Bay, Huidong, Guangdong, China
| | - Linmiao Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Mingbin Ye
- Huidong Sea Turtle National Reserve Management Bureau, Sea Turtle Bay, Huidong, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenge Zhao
- College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China,*Correspondence: Wenge Zhao
| | - Jinping Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China,Jinping Chen
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Kanjer L, Filek K, Mucko M, Majewska R, Gračan R, Trotta A, Panagopoulou A, Corrente M, Di Bello A, Bosak S. Surface microbiota of Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtles unraveled by 16S and 18S amplicon sequencing. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.907368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The loggerhead sea turtle is considered a keystone species with a major ecological role in Mediterranean marine environment. As is the case with other wild reptiles, their outer microbiome is rarely studied. Although there are several studies on sea turtle’s macro-epibionts and endo-microbiota, there has been little research on epibiotic microbiota associated with turtle skin and carapace. Therefore we aimed to provide the identification of combined epibiotic eukaryotic, bacterial and archaeal microbiota on Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtles. In this study, we sampled skins and carapaces of 26 loggerheads from the Mediterranean Sea during 2018 and 2019. To investigate the overall microbial diversity and composition, amplicon sequencing of 16S and 18S rRNA genes was performed. We found that the Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtle epibiotic microbiota is a reservoir of a vast variety of microbial species. Microbial communities mostly varied by different locations and seas, while within bacterial communities’ significant difference was observed between sampled body sites (carapace vs. skin). In terms of relative abundance, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota were the most represented phyla within prokaryotes, while Alveolata and Stramenopiles thrived among eukaryotes. This study, besides providing a first survey of microbial eukaryotes on loggerheads via metabarcoding, identifies fine differences within both bacterial and eukaryotic microbial communities that seem to reflect the host anatomy and habitat. Multi-domain epi-microbiome surveys provide additional layers of information that are complementary with previous morphological studies and enable better understanding of the biology and ecology of these vulnerable marine reptiles.
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Fusarium species isolated from post-hatchling loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in South Africa. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5874. [PMID: 35393437 PMCID: PMC8991248 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06840-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Species in the Fusarium solani species complex are fast growing, environmental saprophytic fungi. Members of this genus are filamentous fungi with a wide geographical distribution. Fusarium keratoplasticum and F. falciforme have previously been isolated from sea turtle nests and have been associated with high egg mortality rates. Skin lesions were observed in a number of stranded, post-hatchling loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in a rehabilitation facility in South Africa. Fungal hyphae were observed in epidermal scrapes of affected turtles and were isolated. The aim of this study was to characterise the Fusarium species that were isolated from these post-hatchling loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) that washed up on beaches along the South African coastline. Three gene regions were amplified and sequenced, namely the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), a part of the nuclear large subunit (LSU), and part of the translation elongation factor 1 α (tef1) gene region. Molecular characteristics of strains isolated during this study showed high similarity with Fusarium isolates, which have previously been associated with high egg mortality rates in loggerhead sea turtles. This is the first record of F. keratoplasticum, F. falciforme and F. crassum isolated from stranded post-hatchling loggerhead sea turtles in South Africa.
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A One Health Perspective to Recognize Fusarium as Important in Clinical Practice. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6040235. [PMID: 33092120 PMCID: PMC7711799 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Any strategy that proposes solutions to health-related problems recognizes that people, animals, and the environment are interconnected. Fusarium is an example of this interaction because it is capable of infecting plants, animals, and humans. This review provides information on various aspects of these relations and proposes how to approach fusariosis with a One Health methodology (a multidisciplinary, and multisectoral approach that can address urgent, ongoing, or potential health threats to humans, animals, and the environment). Here, we give a framework to understand infection pathogenesis, through the epidemiological triad, and explain how the broad utilization of fungicides in agriculture may play a role in the treatment of human fusariosis. We assess how plumbing systems and hospital environments might play a role as a reservoir for animal and human infections. We explain the role of antifungal resistance mechanisms in both humans and agriculture. Our review emphasizes the importance of developing interdisciplinary research studies where aquatic animals, plants, and human disease interactions can be explored through coordination and collaborative actions.
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