Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic disease endemic to most of Latin America, with greatest impact in rural areas. The taxonomic status of one of the best studied Paracoccidioides isolates (Pb01) as P. brasiliensis remains unresolved due to its genomic differences from the other three previously described phylogenetic species (S1, PS2 and PS3; Carrero et al., 2008. Fungal Genet. Biol. 45, 605). Using the genealogic concordance method of phylogenetic species recognition (GCPSR) via maximum parsimony and Bayesian analysis, we identified a clade of 17 genotypically similar isolates, including Pb01, which are distinct from the S1/PS2/P3 clade. Consistent with GCPSR, this "Pb01-like" group can be considered a new phylogenetic species, since it is strongly supported by all independent and concatenated genealogies. "Pb01-like" species exhibit great sequence and morphological divergence from the S1/PS2/PS3 species clade, and we estimate that these groups last shared a common ancestor approximately 32 million years ago. In addition, recombination analysis revealed independent events inside both main groups suggesting reproductive isolation. Consequently, we recommend the formal description of the "Pb01-like" cluster as the new species Paracoccidioides lutzii, a tribute to Adolpho Lutz, discoverer of P. brasiliensis in 1908.

Surgery with adequate surgical margins is a crucial determinant of survival in patients with vascular pythiosis. Itraconazole and terbinafine do not have synergistic effects on Thai P. insidiosum strains. The role of immunotherapy remains inconclusive for both vascular and ocular pythiosis.

Pythium insidiosum sp. nov., the etiologic agent of pythiosis, a cosmopolitan disease of horses, cattle, and dogs, is described and illustrated. Pythiosis (5) is a cosmopolitan granulomatous disease of horses, cattle, and dogs (10, 16, 17, 18) that is caused by a long-unnamed "phycomycete." (The term pythiosis was proposed in 1980 by Chandler et al. [5] as a more appropriate name for the equine disease variously referred to as bursatii, Florida horse leeches, granular dermatitis, hyphomycosis destruens equi, phycomycosis, phycomycotic granuloma, and swamp cancer.) It is probable that the first reports referring to this disease were those of Smith (20) and Drouin (9), who observed the mycelial nature of the etiologic agent. Although the organism could be cultured, it could not be identified, as it did not sporulate. de Haan and Hoogkamer (7) gave an extensive description of several cases of diseased horses in Indonesia and named the disease hyphomycosis destruens. This name was extended by de Haan (6) to hyphomycosis destruens equi. In a publication by Bridges and Emmons (4), the etiologic agent was called Hyphomyces destruens. It was not clear from that publication whether the authors intended to introduce a new binomial or only a provisional name they were anticipating to validate in the future (see reference 21, article 34.1b). The binomial was proposed without a Latin description (21, article 36), and the nomenclatural type was not designated for H. destruens (21, article 37). The binomial H. destruens, therefore, was in direct violation of articles 34.1b, 36, and 37 of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (21). Bridges and Emmons considered H. destruens to be a phycomycete (zygomycete) on the basis of its morphology in equine tissue as well as its broad, branched, sparsely septate to coenocytic, nonsporulating mycelium in cultures. They could not induce sporulation when H. destruens was grown on a wide variety of media. They speculated that the fungus they had studied "may be a species of Mortierella." Austwick and Copland (1) reported that isolates recovered from horses afflicted with swamp cancer in Papua, New Guinea, formed biflagellate zoospores. Zoospore formation occurred when the isolates, grown on Sabouraud dextrose agar, were transferred to a sterilized aqueous medium of rotten maize silage. They concluded that H. destruens was a phycomycete belonging to the Pythiaceae in the Peronosporales and that it could be included in the genus Pythium Pringsheim. These investigators also stated that "Further work is in progress to establish whether it is a recognized or new species." However, additional work on the identity of this oomycete of the kingdom Protoctista was not published.

Although infections caused by the straminipilan pathogen Pythium insidiosum were described in 19th century, it has been only recently that its epidemiology, immunology, treatment and other important traits were extensively studied. These studies were of paramount importance to theorize about the ecological niche for this pathogen, its host-parasite relationships, the antigens used for diagnosis, and the management of the infection using immunotherapy. P. insidiosum triggers in the infected host a T helper 2 [Th2] subset with an inflammatory reaction composed mainly of eosinophils and mast cells. These cells degranulate around the hyphal elements of P. insidiosum where a Splendore-Hoeppli-like reaction develops. In horses this reaction is so intensive that firm concretions called 'kunkers' develop. These data indicated that this pathogen might have developed an evolutionary strategy to conceal important antigens from the host immune system. Immunotherapy, a treatment approach that relies on the injection of antigens of P. insidiosum from in vitro cultures, has been successfully used in humans and horses to manage this disease. A switch from a Th2 to Th1 response is postulated as the most likely explanation of the curative properties of this approach. This review provides details on the serological, immunological, and immunotherapeutic methodologies used to diagnose and treat the infections caused by this pathogen.

RESUMO.-[Surtos de zigomicose rinofacial e rinofarín-gea em ovinos na Paraíba.] Dois surtos de lesões rinofaciais e dois de lesões rinofaríngeas causadas por fungos com hifas filamentosas, raramente septadas, semelhantes às dos fungos entomophthorales, são descritos no Estado da Paraíba. Um surto da forma rinofacial afetou 5 ovinos durante a estação chuvosa. Outro surto desta forma clínica afetou um ovino de um grupo de 40, durante a época seca. Os sinais clínicos da forma rinofacial foram de corrimento serosanguinolento bilateral, com aumento de volume das Common clinical signs of the rhinofacial infection were bilateral serosanguineous nasal discharge with swelling of nostrils, upper lip, and the skin of the face. At necropsy the nasal mucosa showed dark brownish ulcerated areas which extended from the mucocutaneous region to 10cm inside the nasal vestibule. The mucosa of the hard palate was also ulcerated. The cutting surface of nostrils and palate showed a brownish or red spongeous tissue of friable consistency. One outbreak of rhinopharyngitis took place on an irrigated coconut farm; 7 out of 60 adult sheep were affected. Another outbreak affected a sheep in a flock of 80 during the dry season. Clinical signs as noisy respiration and dyspnoea due to mechanical blockage of the nasal cavities, swelling of the nostrils, and serosanguineous nasal discharge were observed. Six out of 8 sheep in this group showed exophthalmia, keratitis and unilateral corneal ulceration of the eye. The sheep either died of their infection or were euthanized after a clinical course of 7-30 days. At necropsy there was a dense yellow exudate in the nasopharyngeal area affecting the ethmoidal region, turbinate bones, paranasal sinuses, hard and soft palates, orbital cavity, pharynges, regional muscles and lymph nodes. Histopathologically both forms of the disease showed multifocal granulomas with an eosinophilic necrotic reaction (Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon) containing ribbon type coenocytic hyphae with 7-30μm in diameter similar to hyphae of zygomycetous fungi, possibly Conidiobolus spp. Outbreaks of both forms of mycotic rhinitis are common in northeastern Brazil and in other regions of the country. narinas, lábio superior, e pele da face. Na necropsia, a mucosa nasal apresentava áreas ulceradas de cor marrom escuro, que se estendiam desde a região muco-cutánea até 10cm dentro do vestíbulo nasal. A mucosa do palato duro estava, também, ulcerada. A superfície de corte das narinas e palato apresentava-se marrom ou avermelhada de aspecto esponjoso e friável. Um surto de rinofaringite micótica ocorreu em uma plantação de coco irrigado, afetando 7 ovinos de um rebanho de 60 ovinos adultos. Outro surto desta forma da enfermidade afetou um único animal de um rebanho de 80, durante a época seca. Os animais apresentavam dispnéia, com respiração ruidosa devida ao bloqueio parcial das narinas, e corrimento nasal serosanguinolento. Seis dos oito animais afetados por esta forma da enfermidade apresentaram, em um olho, exoftalmia, ceratite e ul...