Janio Moraes Santurio

In vitro interactions between amphotericin B and other antifungal agents and rifampin against Fusarium spp.

Fusarium species are common hyaline soil saprophytes and plant pathogens that are opportunistic fungal pathogens of immunocompromised patients. The treatment for fusariosis remains uncertain with an unfavourable prognosis; new possibilities for treatment, such as various synergistic drug interactions, must be uncovered. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro interactions of amphotericin B with caspofungin, ketoconazole, 5‐flucytosine, itraconazole, miconazole, rifampin, fluconazole, terbinafine and voriconazole against isolates of Fusarium spp. using the chequerboard method with interactions evaluated by fractional inhibitory concentration indices. The highest percentages of synergistic interactions were observed for the combinations of amphotericin B and caspofungin (68.7%), amphotericin B and rifampin (68.7%), amphotericin B plus 5‐flucytosine (59.3%) and amphotericin B with voriconazole (37.5%). The pattern of susceptibility to antifungal agents among Fusarium species and their consequence on the effects of drug combinations are also discussed.

Perfil eletroforético das proteínas séricas de frangos de corte alimentados com dietas contendo aflatoxinas e/ou argila clinoptilolita natural

This study was aimed at evaluating the electrophoresis profile of serum protein in broilers fed with diets containing aflatoxins and natural clinoptilolite clay. Five hundred and twenty eight male broilers Ross were distributed in six treatments and each one with 4 replications: T1 – control (without aflatoxins or clinoptilolite), T2 –5ppm of aflatoxins, T3 –0.25% of clinoptilolite, T4 –5ppm of aflatoxins and 0.25% of clinoptilolite, T5 –0.5% of clinoptilolite and T6 – 5ppm of aflatoxins and 0.5% of clinoptilolite. The broilers were allocated in 24 boxes and submitted to a treatments for 42 days, when they were slaughtered. Total proteins, albumin fractions, alpha 1, alpha 2, beta and gamma were analyzed. Except gamma fraction the Tukey test showed differences (P<0.05) on serum total proteins and proteins fractions in all treatments which aflatoxin was present. The clinoptilolite did not modify (P<0.05) the serum proteins. The control broilers fed with diets containing aflatoxins and clinoptilolite presented low levels (P<0.05) of total protein, albumin, and globulins (alpha and beta fractions). In conclusion, aflatoxins change the electrophoresis profile and clinoptilolite is not able to protect avoid these changes.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Alouatta spp. Feces to Essential Oils

This study evaluated the in vitro antibacterial activity of essential oils from Lippia graveolens (Mexican oregano), Origanum vulgaris (oregano), Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), Cymbopogon nardus (citronella), Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass), and Eucalyptus citriodora (eucalyptus) against Escherichia coli (n = 22) strains isolated from Alouatta spp. feces. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined for each isolate using the broth microdilution technique. Essential oils of Mexican oregano (MIC mean = 1818 μg mL−1; MBC mean = 2618 μg mL−1), thyme (MIC mean = 2618 μg mL−1; MBC mean = 2909 μg mL−1), and oregano (MIC mean = 3418 μg mL−1; MBC mean = 4800 μg mL−1) showed the best antibacterial activity, while essential oils of eucalyptus, rosemary, citronella, and lemongrass displayed no antibacterial activity at concentrations greater than or equal to 6400 μg mL−1. Our results confirm the antimicrobial potential of some essential oils, which deserve further research.

Fungal agents of dermatophytosis in dogs and cats from Xanxerê county, Santa Catarina.

A dermatofitose e uma das principais enfermidades tegumentares de animais de companhia, em especial caes e gatos, uma vez que seus agentes etiologicos sao responsaveis por importante zoonose por vezes de dificil tratamento. A presenca de fungos patogenicos na pele, associado as lesoes alopecicas, de bordas delimitadas, e com prurido de discretas intensidades caracteriza a dermatofitose. Este estudo visou determinar a prevalencia das especies fungicas envolvidas em casos de dermatofitose em animais de companhia apresentando lesoes cutâneas. Foram realizados raspados cutâneos de lesoes de pele de 41 (quarenta e um) caes e 7 (sete) gatos. As amostras foram remetidas ao Laboratorio de Microbiologia da UNOESC – Xanxere para eventual isolamento. Os pelos dos animais foram submetidos ao exame direto em microscopio, para detectar a existencia de possiveis alteracoes. Posteriormente, foi realizado o cultivo das amostras em Agar Saboraud, contendo antibiotico. Os fungos foram identificados atraves da morfologia dos macroconideos pela tecnica de microcultivo. Nos caes, o exame direto indicou onze (26,8%) amostras positivas pela visualizacao de lesoes e artroconideos. Apos o cultivo, das 41 amostras coletadas de caes, seis (14,6%) evidenciou-se crescimento de dermatofitos. Das amostras positivas, 50% (3/6) foram identificadas como Microsporum canis , 33,30% (2/6) como M. gypseum e 16,67% (1/6) como M. nanum . Nos gatos, das sete amostras submetidas ao exame direto, tres (42,8%) foram consideradas positivas, contudo nao foram obtidos cultivos positivos nos gatos, quando da realizacao do exame. A dermatofitose foi confirmada em poucos animais, mesmo quando da ocorrencia de lesoes bastante sugestivas.

Immunotherapy for Fungal Infections

Opportunistic fungal infections are a major health problem being appointed by some studies as the fourth main cause of hospital-acquired infection in susceptible populations. The constantly growing incidences of these diseases are associated with the growing number of susceptible individuals, such as immunocompromised individuals (leukemia, AIDS, etc) and treatment-induced immunodeficiency (hematopoietic stem cell, solid organ transplant, anticancer therapy). Furthermore, other advances in medical care, patient’s long-term hospitalization and antimicrobial therapies have created several vulnerable populations to fungal infections. Currently, antifungal drug therapies are several times inefficient, and the poor outcomes are linked to difficulties in the early diagnosis of fungal infections and drug resistance among fungal pathogens. In this context, novel therapeutic approaches are welcome to stimulate efficiently the host immune response to eliminate the fungal pathogen. This chapter is intended to review advances in immunotherapy strategies for fungal infections.