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PubMed2002

Prevalence of skin disease among nursing home patients in southern Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Continuing advances in medical care and nutrition have prolonged the lifespan and expanded the elderly demographic world-wide. Despite increasing elderly populations within Taiwanese nursing homes, there has been a lack of dermatologic surveys, and the prevalence of skin conditions within this group is unknown. METHODS: To establish the prevalence of skin disease within nursing homes in southern Taiwan, we undertook a dermatologic and epidemiologic investigation of 398 patients in Tainan City, southern Taiwan, between November 1999 and February 2000. RESULTS: This study revealed that more than half of all nursing home patients suffered from fungus (61.6%) and xerosis (58.3%), while other pruritic skin diseases, such as dermatitis and scabies, were less prevalent at 7.3% and 3.3%, respectively. Risk factors for fungal infection included bedridden status (risk ratio (RR), 1.2; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1-1.4) and male gender (RR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0-1.3). Xerosis was statistically correlated with an age range of 80-90 years (RR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0-1.4) when compared to other age ranges. Current scabies diagnosis was strongly associated with a previous history of scabies (RR, 8.9; 95% CI, 1.7-21.1). CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides clinically relevant data regarding the prevalence of skin diseases in institutionalized Taiwanese patients for the first time. The results suggest that scabies persists within some nursing homes despite treatment, and that some patients remain undiagnosed. The dermatologic needs of these Taiwanese patients are not currently being satisfied.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Citrus Blight and Other Diseases of Recalcitrant Etiology.

Several economically important diseases of unknown or recently determined cause are reviewed. Citrus blight (CB), first described over 100 years ago, was shown in 1984 to be transmitted by root-graft inoculations; the cause remains unknown and is controversial. Based on graft transmission, it is considered to be an infectious agent by some; others suggest that the cause of CB is abiotic. Citrus variegated chlorosis, although probably long present in Argentina, where it was considered to be a variant of CB, was identified as a specific disease and shown to be caused by a strain of Xylella fastidiosa after if reached epidemic levels in Brazil in 1987. Citrus psorosis, described in 1933 as the first virus disease of citrus, is perhaps one of the last to be characterized. In 1988, it was shown to be caused by a very unusual virus. The cause of lettuce big vein appears to be a viruslike agent that is transmitted by a soilborne fungus. Double-stranded RNAs were associated with the disease, suggesting it may be caused by an unidentified RNA virus. Rio Grande gummosis, dry rot root, peach tree short life, and some replant diseases may be diseases of complex etiology. Various microorganisms have been isolated from trees with these diseases, but the diseases may be attributable in part to environmental factors. Determination of the cause of these diseases of complex etiology has proven difficult, in part, because they affect only mature trees.

citrus psorosis↗
PubMed2005

The spores of Phytophthora: weapons of the plant destroyer.

Members of the genus Phytophthora are among the most serious threats to agriculture and food production, causing devastating diseases in hundreds of plant hosts. These fungus-like eukaryotes, which are taxonomically classified as oomycetes, generate asexual and sexual spores with characteristics that greatly contribute to their pathogenic success. The spores include survival and dispersal structures, and potent infectious propagules capable of actively locating hosts. Genetic tools and genomic resources developed over the past decade are now allowing detailed analysis of these important stages in the Phytophthora life cycle.

Genes↗
PubMed1996

Blastomycosis--Wisconsin, 1986-1995.

Blastomycosis is a disease of humans and animals caused by inhalation of airborne spores from Blastomyces dermatitidis, a dimorphic fungus found in soil. The spectrum of clinical manifestations of blastomycosis includes acute pulmonary disease, subacute and chronic pulmonary disease (most common presentations), and disseminated extrapulmonary disease (cutaneous manifestations are most common, followed by involvement of the bone, the genitourinary tract, and central nervous system). Although the disease is not nationally notifiable, it was designated a reportable condition in Wisconsin in 1984 following two large outbreaks. This report summarizes information about cases of blastomycosis reported in Wisconsin during 1986-1995 and highlights the importance of surveillance for blastomycosis in areas with endemic disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Clinical presentation of allergic fungal sinusitis in children.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences in the clinical and radiographic presentation of allergic fungal sinusitis in children and adults. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart and computed tomography review. METHODS: The settings included a tertiary care children's hospital, adult academic private hospital, and academic affiliated county hospital. All patients with documented allergic fungal sinusitis who underwent computed tomography evaluation and had surgical treatment of their disease from 1988 to 1999 were included in the study. In total, 151 patients aged 5 to 75 years; 44 of these patients were less than or equal to 17 years of age (children) and 107 were greater than 17 years of age (adults). Main outcome measures included 1) the presence of obvious bony facial abnormalities on presentation, 2) bilateral or unilateral sinus disease on presentation, 3) the presence of asymmetrical disease on presentation, 4) the presence of bony extension on computed tomography scan, and 5) type of fungus present. RESULTS: Fifteen of 36 (42%) pediatric patients and 10 of 103 (10%) adult patients had obvious alteration of their facial skeleton (proptosis, telecanthus, or malar flattening) on presentation (P <.05). Proptosis was the most common facial abnormality in both groups and was seen more often in children (8 of 36 [22%]) than in adults (9 of 103 [9%]) (P <.05). Twenty-eight of 40 (70%) pediatric patients and 37 of 100 (37%) adult patients presented with unilateral sinus disease (P <.05). Thirty-five of 40 (88%) pediatric patients and 58 of 100 (58%) adults presented with asymmetrical disease (P <.05). Computed tomography scans showed that 10 of 40 (25%) pediatric patients and 23 of 100 (23%) adult patients had bony erosion with extension of disease into surrounding structures (P >.05). Cultures from both adults and children showed mainly Bipolaris and Curvilaria species in equal amounts (P >.05). Adults had a greater incidence of Aspergillus species. CONCLUSIONS: Presentation in pediatric patients with allergic fungal sinusitis is different from that in adults, with children having obvious abnormalities of their facial skeleton, unilateral sinus disease, and asymmetrical disease more often. Findings on computed tomography scan show an equal amount of bony erosion with extension of disease. The types of fungus cultured in the sinus cavities are similar in both groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Fungal diseases of the sinuses.

With recent advances in medicine, fungal diseases are becoming not only better understood, but also increasingly important in the management of patients with paranasal sinus disease. Fungal sinus diseases run the gamut from allergic fungal rhinitis and allergic fungal sinusitis, through fungus balls, to invasive and fulminant fungal sinusitis. Allergic fungal sinusitis may be thought of as the sinus counterpart of allergic bronchopulmonary fungal disease. Patients typically are first seen with chronic sinusitis. They may be atopic, and the peripheral blood often shows elevated IgE levels and absolute eosinophil counts. Such patients may be managed conservatively, requiring only surgical drainage and corticosteroid therapy. Fungus balls are typified by the so-called "aspergilloma." Although patients often have some predisposing factor, such as local tissue hypoxia or massive fungal exposure, most patients are not immunocompromised. Fungus balls may be treated with the traditional Caldwell-Luc operation or with newer endoscopic procedures. Invasive or fulminant fungal sinusitis generally occurs in immunosuppressed patients and merits aggressive surgical excision and debridement, as well as systemic chemotherapy, usually amphotericin B. In this article, we review fungal disease of the paranasal sinuses and present findings from our review of patients with chronic sinusitis.

Humans↗
PubMed2003

Karyotypic similarity identifies multiple host-shifts of a pathogenic fungus in natural populations.

The detection of incipient host-shifts is important to the study of emergent diseases because it allows the examination of ecological and genetic conditions that favor novel inter-species transmission. Mixed populations of Silene latifolia and Silene vulgaris were investigated for the putative occurrence of host-shifts by the fungal plant pathogen Microbotryum violaceum (the cause of anther-smut disease) between S. latifolia (a common host for the pathogen) and S. vulgaris (a rare host). Samples of the fungus from mixed and pure host populations were studied for variation in their electrophoretic karyotypes. A karyotype distance matrix showed that fungal samples clustered by locality, but not by host species. Fungal samples from S. vulgaris were indistinguishable from sympatric samples from S. latifolia in multiple cases. The results indicated at least two independent host-shifts, one in the US and perhaps two in Italy. The karyotype and ecological data indicate that the direction of the host-shifts is from S. latifolia to S. vulgaris.

Basidiomycota↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Ecological and epidemiological relationships between Sporothrix schenckii, a fungus pathogenic for man and the Ceratocystis genus].

Sporothrix schenckii is a pathogenic fungus for man and animal. Its perfect form is not yet known. Many studies have been made to compare this fungus to ascomycetes belonging to the genus Ceratocystis. This paper summarizes some important data about the ecology and the epidemiology of the fungal complex Sporothrix-Ceratocystis. Previous results obtained by several groups of workers are strongly in favor of a relationship between the two genera. The epidemiological studies carried out in different areas have shown that Sporothrix schenckii and Ceratocystis stenoceras are frequently isolated from the same fragments of plants such as pine or eucalyptus. According to the time and areas, it appears that there is or there is not a relation between the presence of the fungus on the plants or in the soil and the disease. The former case is well illustrated by the epidemic of the Transvaal between 1940 and 1944. Sporothrix schenckii has been found to be present either in endemic areas like Guatemala (around the Ayarza Lake) or in Alsace, or in Corse where no case has been reported for a long time. In France, except for the curious epidemic observed between the years 1903 and 1912, no or very rare cases have been observed although Sporothrix schenckii is abundant in the soil and injuries with contaminated materials are probably extremely frequent. The presence or even the abundance of the fungus in nature is not enough to explain the development of the disease. Some not well known factors are necessary. So as for all disease, the immunological reaction of the host is important and the defects of these mechanisms must be suspected.

Ascomycota↗
PubMed1991

[An operated case report of pulmonary aspergillosis by sapprophytic infection of Aspergillus candidus in congenital bronchial cyst of right lower lobe].

Aspergillosis is a mycotic disease caused by a variety of species of the dimorphic fungus aspergillosis, especially aspergillus fumigatus. But the report of pulmonary aspergillosis by aspergillus candidus is very rare. We experienced a surgical case of pulmonary aspergillosis caused by aspergillus candidus. The patient is a 18-year-old girl. Eleven years ago, she had suffered from pneumonia of rt. lower lobe, there after she often has suffered from cough and fever every year. In 1986, chest x-ray photography shows a small cavity in rt. lower lobe. In 1989, it becomes a big cavity of 8 X 8 cm in diameter with niveau. She has cough and bloody sputum of 100-150 ml daily. We have cultured aspergillus candidus from sputum, bloody pus obtained by percutaneous aspiration needle lung biopsy of the cavity and bloody pus in the cavity which was resected on March 3, 1989. But the pathological investigation could not demonstrate any fungus ball or fungus body of aspergillus candidus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Characterization and molecular genetic complementation of mutants affecting dimorphism in the fungus ustilago maydis

Ustilago maydis, the causal agent of corn smut disease, displays dimorphic growth in which it alternates between a unicellular, nonpathogenic yeast-like form and a dikaryotic, pathogenic filamentous form. Previously, a constitutively filamentous haploid mutant was obtained. Complementation of this mutant led to the isolation of the gene encoding adenylate cyclase, uac1. Secondary mutagenesis of a uac1 disruption strain allowed the isolation of a large number of suppressor mutants, termed ubc, for Ustilago bypass of cyclase, lacking the filamentous phenotype. Analysis of one of these suppressor mutants previously led to the identification of the ubc1 gene, encoding the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. In this report we describe the isolation of cosmids containing three new ubc genes, termed ubc2, ubc3, and ubc4. We also describe the morphology of the ubc2, ubc3, and ubc4 mutants in a uac1- background as well as in a background with a functional uac1 gene. In addition, we describe several mutant strains not complemented with any of the genes currently in hand and that are thus presumed to possess mutations in additional ubc genes. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Purification and characterization of cassiicolin, the toxin produced by Corynespora cassiicola, causal agent of the leaf fall disease of rubber tree.

Cassiicolin, a phytotoxin produced by the necrotrophic fungus Corynespora cassiicola, was purified to homogeneity from a rubber tree isolate. The optimized protocol involves reverse phase chromatography followed by size exclusion chromatography, with monitoring of the toxicity on detached rubber tree leaves. Cassiicolin appeared to be a peptide composed of 27 amino acids, glycosylated on the second residue, with a N-terminal pyroglutamic acid and 6 cysteines involved in disulfide bonds. Its molecular mass was estimated to be 2885 Da. No significant sequence homology with other proteins could be found. The availability of pure toxin in sufficient amount is a prerequisite for its structure determination, which is a key step in the understanding of the aggression mechanism.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Avirulent mutants of Macrophomina phaseolina and Aspergillus fumigatus initiate infection in Phaseolus mungo in the presence of phaseolinone; levamisole gives protection.

To evaluate the role of phaseolinone, a phytotoxin produced by Macrophomina phaseolina, in disease initiation, three nontoxigenic avirulent mutants of the fungus were generated by UV-mutagenesis. Two of them were able to initiate infection in germinating Phaseolus mungo seeds only in the presence of phaseolinone. The minimum dose of phaseoli-none required for infection in 30% seedlings was 2 5 mg/ml. A human pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus was also able to infect germinating seeds of P. mungo in the presence of 5 mg/ml concentration of phaseolinone. Phaseolinone seemed to facilitate infection by A. fumigatus, which is not normally phytopathogenic, by reducing the immunity of germinating seedlings in a nonspecific way. Levamisole, a non-specific immunopotentiator gave protection against infection induced by A. fumigatus at an optimum dose of 50 mg/ml. Sodium malonate prevented the effects of levamisole.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2000

An Ophiovirus isolated from lettuce with big-vein symptoms.

Big-vein is a widespread and damaging disease of lettuce, transmitted through soil by the chytrid fungus Olpidium brassicae, and generally supposed to be caused by Lettuce big-vein virus (LBVV; genus Varicosavirus). This virus is reported to have rigid rod-shaped particles, a divided double-stranded RNA genome, and one capsid protein of 48 kD, but has not been isolated or rigorously shown to cause the disease. We provide evidence that a totally different virus, here named Mirafiori lettuce virus (MiLV), is also very frequently associated with lettuce showing big-vein symptoms. MiLV was mechanically transmissible from lettuce to Chenopodium quinoa and to several other herbaceous test plants. The virus was partially purified, and an antiserum prepared, which did not react with LBVV particles in decoration tests. As reported for LBVV, MiLV was labile, soil-transmitted and had a single capsid protein of 48 kD, but the particles morphologically resembled those of ophioviruses, and like these, MiLV had a genome of three RNA segments approximately 8.5, 1.9 and 1.7 kb in size. MiLV preparations reacted strongly in Western blots and in ISEM with antiserum to Tulip mild mottle mosaic virus, an ophiovirus from Japan also apparently Olpidium-transmitted. They reacted weakly but clearly in Western blots with antiserum to Ranunculus white mottle virus, another ophiovirus. When lettuce seedlings were mechanically inoculated with crude or partially purified extracts from MiLV-infected test plants, many became systemically infected with MiLV and some developed big-vein symptoms. Such plants did not react in ELISA using an LBVV antiserum or an antiserum to tobacco stunt virus, and varicosavirus-like particles were never seen in them in the EM after negative staining. We conclude that MiLV is a hitherto undescribed virus assignable to the genus Ophiovirus. The cause or causes of lettuce big-vein disease and the properties of LBVV may need to be re-evaluated in light of our results.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed2004

[Study on the relationship of airborne sensitization fungus and anaphylactic rhinitis in Wuhan].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our studies is to explore the relation between superior sensitizing fungus and anaphylactic rhinitis, for directing the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. METHOD: Three hundred and ninety-two persons were treated by allergen skin test. Using 15 main sensitizing fungus, 90 anaphylactic rhinitis were examined. The serum level of IgE were examined, too. RESULT: In the allergen skin testing 239 cases (60.97%) were positive, the positive rate was higher than that in contrast group (t = 5.47, P < 0.01). The main fungus allergen were Rhizopus nigricans, Cuvularia and Altevnaria, the value of IgE in patients group was higher than that in control group (t = 5.47, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: It proves that airborne sensitizing fungus are important causes of anaphylactic rhinitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Both solar UVA and UVB radiation impair conidial culturability and delay germination in the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae.

The entomopathogenic hyphomycete Metarhizium anisopliae has been used in programs of agricultural pest and disease vector control in several countries. Exposure to simulated solar radiation for a few hours can completely inactivate the conidia of the fungus. In the present study we determined the effect of exposures to full-spectrum sunlight and to solar ultraviolet A radiation at 320-400 nm (UVA) on the conidial culturability and germination of three M. anisopliae strains. The exposures were performed in July and August 2000 in Logan, UT. The strains showed wide variation in tolerance when exposed to full-spectrum sunlight as well as to UVA sunlight. Four-hour exposures to full-spectrum sunlight reduced the relative culturability by approximately 30% for strain ARSEF 324 and by 100% for strains ARSEF 23 and 2575. The relative UV sensitivity of the two more sensitive strains was different under solar UV from that under ultraviolet B radiation at 280-320 nm (UVB) in the laboratory. Four-hour exposures to solar UVA reduced the relative culturability by 10% for strain ARSEF 324, 40% for strain ARSEF 23 and 60% for strain ARSEF 2575. Exposures to both full-spectrum sunlight and UVA sunlight delayed the germination of the surviving conidia of all three strains. These results, in addition to confirming the deleterious effects of UVB, clearly demonstrate the negative effects of UVA sunlight on the survival and germination of M. anisopliae conidia under natural conditions. The negative effects of UVA in sunlight also emphasize that the biological spectral weighting functions for this fungus must not neglect the UVA wavelengths.

Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Inoculation of Lacazia loboi into the subcutaneous tissue of the hamster cheek pouch.

The subcutaneous tissue of the hamster cheek pouch, a site of immunologic privilege, has been used to investigate the potential infectivity of different types of parasites. It has been demonstrated that the implantation of fragments of lesions induced by the fungus Lacazia loboi, the etiologic agent of Jorge Lobo's disease, into the subcutaneous tissue of the hamster cheek pouch resulted in parasite multiplication and dissemination to satellite lymph nodes16. Here we describe the evolution of lesions induced by the inoculation of the isolated fungus into this immunologically privileged site. The morphology of the inflammatory response and fungal viability and proliferation were evaluated. Inoculation of the fungus into the cheek pouch induced histiocytic granulomas with rare lymphocytes. Although fungal cells were detected for a period of up to 180 days in these lesions, the fungi lost viability after the first day of inoculation. In contrast, when the parasite was inoculated into the footpad, non-organized histiocytic lesions were observed. Langhan's giant cells, lymphocytes and fungal particles were observed in these lesions. Fungal viability was observed up to 60 days after inoculation and non-viable parasites were present in the persistent lesions up to 180 days post-inoculation. These data indicate that the subcutaneous tissue of the hamster cheek pouch is not a suitable site for the proliferation of Lacazia loboi when the fungus isolated from human tissues is tested.

Animals↗