Epidermophyton floccosum was isolated from a lesion of dermatophytosis on a dog with hyperadrenocorticism. This report is, to our knowledge, the first unequivocally documented case of canine infection in the United States.
SF 86-327 (Sandoz Forschungsinstitut) is an orally active allylamine derivative related to naftifine. The antifungal activity of SF 86-327 was compared in vitro with those of naftifine, ketoconazole, and itraconazole (R 51,211, Janssen Pharmaceutica) by agar dilution. 120 fungal isolates were tested. Also, the antifungal activities of SF 86-327 and naftifine against 18 dimorphic pathogens were assayed in vitro by broth dilution. Results of these studies support claims that SF 86-327 is a broad spectrum antifungal agent. Results of the broth dilution studies also revealed that SF 86-327 was both fungistatic and fungicidal in vitro for isolates of Blastomyces dermatitidis, Histoplasma capsulatum and Sporothrix schenckii at concentrations as low as 0.05 micrograms ml-1 (18 isolates tested, MIC90 = 0.39 micrograms ml-1, MFC90 = 12.5 micrograms ml-1).
The nutritional requirements of the mycelial and yeast-like phases of the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a human pathogen, were investigated. For all nine isolates tested, mycelial cells were prototrophic, whereas yeast-like cells required a sulfur-containing amino acid for growth. Moreover, changing the source of nitrogen greatly affected the morphology of the yeast-like cells.
182 Danish farmers and 105 city-dwelling control subjects were investigated for serum IgG antibodies to three purified Aspergillus fumigatus antigen fractions and unfractionated culture filtrate by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Farmers had higher levels of antibodies to all four ELISA antigens than non-farming controls. In farmers and controls high antibody activity was recorded with an antigen fraction of approximate molecular weight 470 000 daltons. Antibody levels to this fraction were higher in non-smokers than smokers in both study groups. Cattle farmers had higher antibody levels to the 470 000 daltons fraction than farmers with no animals on the farm. Farmers with higher antibody activity to any of the three fractionated ELISA antigens tended to have fewer respiratory symptoms than farmers with lower antibody activity. It was concluded that occupational exposure and smoking habits are the main determinants of the immune response to A. fumigatus in man.
The succinate dehydrogenase activity of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was investigated histochemically by electron microscopy. The reaction product of this enzyme was demonstrated in some membranous structures of organelles interpreted as mitochondria. This enzyme shows very active oxido-reduction in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis mitochondria during, 3, 6, and and 9 days of culture.
Bronchoalveolar fluid cytology from six progressive pulmonary paracoccidioidomycotic patients showed an alveolitis of neutrophilic pattern which was independent of the of the duration of the chronic fungal disease. The percentage of neutrophils in paracoccidioidomycotic alveolitis was higher than in other neutrophilic alveolitis conditions.
Saksenaea vasiformis was identified as the causative agent in three cases of sub-cutaneous zygomycosis in Australia. The laboratory techniques for inducing clinical isolates of S. vasiformis to produce sporangia, necessary for the precise identification of the fungus, are described and compared.