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Biomedical subjects

L Ajello

Publications and source records attributed to L Ajello.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Systemic zygomycosis caused by Apophysomyces elegans.

A case of systemic zygomycosis caused by Apophysomyces elegans in a 56-year-old man is described. The left kidney and the bladder showed presence of broad, nonseptate-to-infrequently septate hyphae in both the bladder lesion and in the septic kidney. Surgical debridement and treatment with amphotericin B cured the infection. No underlying immune defect was ever demonstrated, and the patient was not hyperglycemic or acidotic at any time. This zygomycetous fungus closely resembles Absidia corymbifera, but is distinguished by its distinctive morphological features.

Humans↗
PubMed1985

Studies on histoplasmosis farciminosi (epizootic lymphangitis) in Egypt. Isolation of Histoplasma farciminosum from cases of histoplasmosis farciminosi in horses and its morphological characteristics.

Isolation of Histoplasma farciminosum from five horses, showing typical signs of histoplasmosis farciminosi (epizootic lymphangitis) was successfully attempted. The mycelial form of H. farciminosum was isolated on Sabouraud dextrose agar enriched with 2.5% glycerol, brain heart infusion (BHI) agar enriched with 10% horse blood and PPLO dextrose glycerol agar. The last medium proved to be the most effective, both for primary isolation and subculturing of the fungus. It was found that on primary isolation, the lag phase of the mycelial form of the fungus was relatively long, involving 4-8 weeks at 25 degrees C. Colonies of the mycelial form of H. farciminosum appeared on subculture as a yellowish, light brown to deep brown, convoluted, waxy, cauliflower-like growth tending to form scant aerial growth. Conversion of the mycelial form to the yeast form of H. farciminosum was successful by subculturing either on BHI agar with 5% blood or on Pine's medium and incubating at 35-37 degrees C. Complete conversion to the yeast form was achieved only after 4-5 repeated serial transfers onto fresh media every 8 days. The yeast colonies were flat, raised, slightly or deeply wrinkled, white to light gray to grayish brown, and were pasty in consistency.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Fusarium moniliforme, a new mycetoma agent. Restudy of a European case.

Fusarium moniliforme was demonstrated to be the etiologic agent in an Italian case of eumycotic mycetoma. The fungus produced white granules, which measured 80 X 133 by 212 X 478 microns. Their edges were entire or lobed and were surrounded by an eosinophilic homogeneous material. The hyphae comprising the granules were not embedded in cement. The etiologic agent, first considered to be an Acremonium species, was restudied and identified as F. moniliforme on the basis that it not only produced chains of microconidia but also curved, multi-septate macroconidia typical of the genus Fusarium.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Imported paracoccidioidomycosis: a public health problem in non-endemic areas.

Diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis in an immigrant who had returned to Italy following a long sojourn in Venezuela prompted a review of imported cases of this Latin American disease in nonendemic countries. Forty-two such instances of well-documented paracoccidioidomycosis were complied. Among these, eleven individuals had arrived in nonendemic countries with active symptomatic infections, fifteen others were first suspected of having tuberculosis, and four each were considered to have blastomycosis caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis and carcinomas. Three individuals were considered to have Wegener's granulomatosis or blastomycosis. Two other patients were treated for syphilis before being diagnosed as having paracoccidioidomycosis. A striking feature of most of these cases was the long asymptomatic period following initial infection. The dormant periods ranged form four months to 60 years with an average duration of 14 years. The need to question patients about travel to or residency in foreign countries is emphasized, along with the necessity to include the mycoses in differential diagnoses. Three reported cases, all from Africa with no history of travel to the endemic areas of the New World, were considered to be doubtful. In one of these, Russell bodies apparently had been mistaken for the tissue-form cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1985

Scanning electron microscope studies on the parasitic cycle of Coccidioides immitis.

The process involved in the in vivo conversion of the arthroconidia of Coccidioides immitis into endosporulating spherules was studied with the aid of a scanning electron microscope. By the fifth and sixth day after inoculation of laboratory mice, complete conversion had occurred in their kidneys, lungs, and spleens. The progressive stages of cleavage that occurred in the enlarged arthroconidia were initiated by invagination at several points of the cytoplasmic membrane that covers the inner surface of the developing spherule's cytoplasm was divided into progressive smaller segments. These segments were aggregated in packets and enclosed in a membranous sac. At maturity the membrane dissolved, and the endospores were freed within the spherules. Finally, the spherule wall ruptured, and the endospores were released.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Wangiella dermatitidis endocarditis in an intravenous drug user.

Wangiella dermatitidis is an infrequently encountered dematiacious fungus that usually causes localized infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. This report presents the first well-documented case of natural valve infection caused by this organism as it occurred in intravenous drug abuser. His course has been complicated by relapsing infection of two aortic prostheses and dissemination to the vertebral spine. Treatment with a combination of amphotericin B, rifampin, and ketoconazole has arrested the progression of his infection. The microbiologic features and existing clinical information regarding this fungus are reviewed and in vitro susceptibility data for the present isolate are presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Zygomycosis. Report of four cases with formation of chlamydoconidia in tissue.

The authors describe spheric to ovoid chlamydoconidia and mucoraceous hyphae in tissues from four patients, two with cutaneous and two with pulmonary zygomycosis. The diagnosis in each case was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining and the presence of characteristic hyphae in tissue. It is important that these conidia be recognized, because they can easily be mistaken for other fungi, nematode ova, or other microorganisms in tissue sections, thereby resulting in the potential for misdiagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Zygomycosis caused by Apophysomyces elegans.

A case of zygomycosis caused by Apophysomyces elegans in a diabetic, obese female is described. The fungus gained entry into the body through injury to the skin, penetrating the keratin, epidermis, and dermis. Hyphal angioinvasion was observed. Fungal elements invaded the subcutaneous fat, skeletal muscle fibers, nerves, and large blood vessels, resulting in the spread of the infection. The rapidity with which A. elegans invaded the blood vessels left no choice except amputation of the leg to stop the spread of the infection. This zygomycetous fungus closely resembles Absidia corymbifera. It is distinguished by its prominent campanulate apophyses. In its gross colony characteristics and failure to sporulate on routinely used media it resembles Saksenaea vasiformis.

Diabetes Complications↗
PubMed1984

Imported penicilliosis marneffei in the United States: report of a second human infection.

The first natural infection due to Penicillium marneffei in a human was reported in the United States in 1973. We describe a second case of penicilliosis marneffei that was diagnosed in Florida. In both instances, the patients had a history of travel in Southeast Asia where P. marneffei is endemic. The Florida patient had recurrent episodes of hemoptysis attributed to bronchitis and bronchiectasis. In spite of therapy with various antibacterial antibiotics for tuberculosis, the granulomatous lesions in the left upper lobe of the lungs persisted. The diagnosis of penicilliosis marneffei was established by isolating and identifying the dimorphic species of Penicillium, P. marneffei. The histopathologic features of the lung tissue included granulomata with central areas of necrosis and neutrophilic infiltration with many yeast-like, tissue-form cells of P. marneffei, which multiplied by a fission rather than a budding process.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1984

Penicilliosis marneffei in Thailand: report of five human cases.

The first two cases of Penicillium marneffei infection in humans were reported in 1959 and 1973. There had been no additional clinical reports of penicilliosis marneffei, until the five new cases of human infection described in this paper, the first from Thailand. The patients, three of whom died, came from various parts of the country. Their common clinical manifestations were fever and generalized lymphadenopathy, with multiple soft tissue, bone, joint and pulmonary involvement. Pericarditis with effusion was also seen. The diagnosis was established by isolating and identifying a dimorphic Penicillium species that produced a soluble red pigment in its mycelial form. The histopathologic features of the lymph nodes and bone marrow were similar to those of histoplasmosis capsulati. However, the yeast-like tissue form of P. marneffei divides by fission; that of Histoplasma capsulatum by budding. Treatment with amphotericin B was effective when this antifungal antibiotic was administered early in the course of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Antigenic relationships among Cladosporium species of medical importance.

We analyzed the exoantigens of 54 isolates belonging to the pathogenic Cladosporium species. Cladophialophora ajelloi was found to be antigenically identical to Cladosporium carrionii. All human and cat isolates of C. bantianum and C. trichoides were found to share the same antigens. Although cross-reactions were observed among the four species of Cladosporium: C. carrionii, C. bantianum, c. herbarum, and C. cladosporioides they were identified and differentiated specifically with four monospecific factor sera obtained through absorption procedures. The exoantigen serologic procedure also permitted us to identify cultures of these four Cladosporium spp. within 8 days.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Analytical isoelectric focusing of secreted dermatophyte proteins applied to taxonomic differentiation of Microsporum and Trichophyton species (preliminary studies).

Culture filtrates were prepared from dermatophytes under standard conditions and adapted for analytical isoelectric focusing in thin layer polyacrylamide gels over the pH range 3.5-9.5. Dermatophytes grown in trypticase soy broth secreted a large number of proteins displaying a wide range of isoelectric points (pIs). Trichophyton megninii extracts contained a triplet of proteins focusing in the pH 8.0-8.5 range that were absent in taxonomically related T. kuryangei isolates. Single ascospore isolates and standard tester strains of Nannizzia otae (+) mating type were differentiated from the (-) mating type by proteins focusing at pH 6.5 and 8.4. These were markedly reduced in the (+) type. The isofocused pattern of Microsporum canis conformed closely to the (-) mating type of N. otae. The protein patterns of T. megninii and T. kuryangei were distinct from those obtained with M. canis and M. equinum because of an intense-staining broad protein band, pI 7.2, and three periodic acid-Schiff-positive glycoproteins focusing in the acidic range which were absent in the Microsporum species. A characteristic protein or doublet (pI 8.7) was present in the Microsporum species and absent in the Trichophyton species. Analytical isoelectric focusing is a potentially useful method to distinguish inter- and intra-species differences in the pattern of secreted dermatophyte proteins present in culture filtrates and in trichophytins. The information derived may be useful in the classification of species.

Culture Media↗
PubMed1984

Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Cladosporium devriesii, sp. nov.

A 26-year-old woman from Grand Cayman Island with a 3-month history of a lump in the left breast was presumptively diagnosed as having a carcinoma. A segmental resection was attempted. Histologic examination of the biopsied tissue showed extensive granulomatous inflammation, necrosis, and septate, branched, dematiaceous hyphae in the intralobular ducts as well as in the surrounding tissues. When cultured on Sabouraud dextrose and brain heart infusion agars, the tissue yielded a slow-growing, downy, dematiaceous mould. Microscopically, it produced short, branched and unbranched chains of holoblastic conidia in acropetal manner from erect conidiophores that were characteristic of the genus Cladosporium. The isolate grew well at 36-37 degrees C, but failed to grow above 37 degrees C. It did not liquefy gelatin nor decompose casein, xanthine, hypoxanthine, or tyrosine, but did hydrolyze urea. Comparative studies with other pathogenic and saprophytic species of Cladosporium revealed that it represented an undescribed species. It is named Cladosporium devriesii, sp. nov.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala moniliae.

We studied two cases of phaeohyphomycosis that occurred in Japan. Histopathologic examination of biopsy material showed the presence of dematiaceous catenulate fungal cells and mycelium characteristic of phaeohyphomycosis. In detailed mycologic study of the two cultures isolated from the patients we found that both formed conidiogenous cells with proximal swellings with long, neck-like extensions bearing distinct annellations and clusters of conidia at their apices. The isolates were identified as Exophiala moniliae de Hoog. These two Japanese cases are the second and third known cases of phaeohyphomycosis caused by E. moniliae and the first recorded in that country.

Antigens, Fungal↗
PubMed1984

The relationship of Cladosporium carrionii to Cladophialophora ajelloi.

Twelve of 21 isolates of Cladosporium carrionii, when grown on nutritionally deficient media such as lactrimel agar, hay infusion agar, diluted corn meal dextrose agar, and water agar, produced urniform phialides and phialoconidia identical with those produced by two isolates of Cladophialophora ajelloi. All isolates of C. carrionii and Cph. ajelloi hydrolyzed urea in 7 days, but failed to liquefy gelatin. The decomposition of casein, xanthine, hypoxanthine, and tyrosine was found to be of no diagnostic value because of the variable results given by the isolates of C. carrionii. None of the C. bantianum isolates or commonly encountered saprophytic species of Cladosporium, such as C. cladosporioides and C. herbarum, showed the ability to form phialides on any of the media tested. Because of the identical nature of the two synanamorphs of Cph. ajelloi, namely the Cladosporium-type and the Phialophora-type, with those of C. carionii, Cph. ajelloi is considered to be a later synonym of C. carrionii. The Latin description of C. carrionii is emended to include the Phialophora anamorph.

Animals↗