Zélia Braz Vieira da Silva Pontes

Otomycosis: a retrospective study

UNLABELLED Otomycosis is a fungal infection of the external ear canal with only a few studies about its real frequency in Brazil. AIM to evaluate otomycosis frequency and characteristics in patients with clinical suspicion of external otitis. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study with transversal cohort (2000-2006). MATERIALS AND METHODS 103 patients were assigned to mycological diagnosis (direct microscopic examination and culture). RESULTS Otomycosis was diagnosed in 19.4% of the patients. Patient age varied from 2 to 66 years (an average of 23.5 years of age), and 60% of otomycosis cases were seen in women between 2 to 20 years of age. Chronic otitis, previous antibiotic therapy and the lack of cerumen were predisposing factors; itching, otalgia, otorrhea and hypoacusis were the symptoms reported by the patients. The most frequently isolated species were C. albicans (30%), C. parapsilosis (20%), A. niger (20%), A. flavus (10%), A. fumigatus (5%), C. tropicalis (5%), Trichosporon asahii (5%) and Scedosporium apiospermum (5%). CONCLUSIONS Otomycosis is endemic in João Pessoa-PB. Clinical exam and mycological studies are important for diagnostic purposes because otomycosis symptoms are not specific.

Clinical and mycological study of scalp white piedra in the State of Paraíba, Brazil

White piedra is a superficial mycoses characterized by nodules on the hair shaft, caused by the basidiomycetous yeasts. In the present study, clinical and mycological findings of scalp white piedra caused by Trichosporon spp. are related. Twenty three cases of scalp white piedra were observed with a high incidence in women (87%) and preschool children from 2 to 6 (74%) years old. These groups presented a relationship of dependence with this infection. Despite the low socio-economic status, poor standards of hygiene, (48% of the patients) as well as the fact that 30.4% of the children shared the same nursery, these factors were not significant for the transmission of the mycosis. These were the first reports of scalp white piedra in João Pessoa city, Paraíba, Brazil.

Otomicoses: um estudo retrospectivo

Otomicose e uma infeccao fungica do conduto auditivo externo com poucos estudos sobre sua real frequencia no Brasil. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a frequencia e caracteristicas das otomicoses em pacientes com suspeita clinica de otite externa. DESENHO DO ESTUDO: Estudo retrospectivo com corte transversal (2000-2006). MATERIAL E METODOS: 103 pacientes foram atendidos para diagnostico micologico (exame microscopico direto e cultivo). RESULTADOS: Otomicoses foram diagnosticadas em 19,4% dos pacientes. A idade desses pacientes variou de 2 a 66 anos (media de 23,5 anos) e 60% das otomicoses foram observadas em mulheres entre 2 a 20 anos de idade. Otite cronica, antibioticoterapia previa e ausencia de cerume foram os fatores predisponentes e prurido otologico, otalgia, otorreia e hipoacusia os sintomas relatados pelos pacientes. As especies mais frequentemente isoladas foram C. albicans (30%), C. parapsilosis (20%), A. niger (20%), A. flavus (10%), A. fumigatus (5%), C. tropicalis (5%), Trichosporon asahii (5%) e Scedosporium apiospermum (5%). CONCLUSAO: Otomicose e endemica em Joao Pessoa - PB. O acompanhamento clinico e o diagnostico micologico sao importantes uma vez que a sintomatologia de otomicose nao e especifica.

DISTRIBUTION OF DERMATOPHYTES FROM SOILS OF URBAN AND RURAL AREAS OF CITIES OF PARAIBA STATE, BRAZIL

SUMMARY The dermatophytes, keratinophilic fungi, represent important microorganisms of the soil microbiota, where there are cosmopolitan species and others with restricted geographic distribution. The aim of this study was to broaden the knowledge about the presence of dermatophytes in soils of urban (empty lots, schools, slums, squares, beaches and homes) and rural areas and about the evolution of their prevalence in soils of varying pH in cities of the four mesoregions of Paraiba State, Brazil. Soil samples were collected from 31 cities of Paraiba State. Of 212 samples, 62% showed fungal growth, particularly those from the Mata Paraibana mesoregion (43.5%), which has a tropical climate, hot and humid. Soil pH varied from 4.65 to 9.06, with 71% of the growth of dermatophytes occurring at alkaline pH (7.02 - 9.06) (ρ = 0.000). Of 131 strains isolated, 57.3% were geophilic species, particularly Trichophyton terrestre (31.3%) and Mycrosporum gypseum (21.4%). M. nanum and T. ajelloi were isolated for the first time in Paraiba State. The zoophilic species identified were T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (31.3 %) and T. verrucosum (7.6 %), and T. tonsurans was isolated as an anthropophilic species. The soils of urban areas including empty lots, schools, slums and squares of cities in the mesoregions of Paraiba State were found to be the most suitable reservoirs for almost all dermatophytes; their growth may have been influenced by environmental factors, soils with residues of human and/or animal keratin and alkaline pH.

Profile of susceptibility in vitro of Trichosporon asahii and Trichosporon inkin strains against cyclic imides

O perfil de sensibilidade in vitro de Trichosporon asahii (13 cepas) e T. inkin (13 cepas) frente a imidas ciclicas (naftalimidas, succinimidas e maleimidas) nas concentracoes de 6,25 a 200 µg/mL foi realizado pelo metodo de difusao em agar. Pelos resultados obtidos, a atividade antifungica das imidas ciclicas: 3,4-dicloro-N-fenil-maleimida; 3,4-dicloro-N-fenil-etil-maleimida e 3,4-dicloro-N-fenil-propil-maleimida (50 µg/mL) sobre T. asahii e T. inkin foi importante e pode abrir perspectivas na busca de novos produtos antimicoticos.