Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), caused by the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb), is the most prevalent systemic mycosis in Latin America. There are few reports in the literature about the disease damages during pregnancy and the consequences to the fetuses and breeding. This study evaluated the implications of PCM during pregnancy on offspring and mothers in Wistar rats. Groups of rats were submitted to systemic Pb infection, by intraperitoneal infusion, and mated 30 days after the infection date. Immediately after birth, rats and neonates were sacrificed to obtain organs for standard histological examination, morphometric analysis, fungi recovery by plating (CFU) and dosing of anti-Pb antibodies by ELISA. There were no stillbirths or miscarriages, however, the fetuses from infected pregnant rats had lower body and organ weight but the fertility rate was 100%. The largest number of CFU was recovered from the organ of pregnant rats, the pathological examination revealed more severe infection in the same group, further on the largest number of granulomas and fungal field. It can be concluded that the PCM was more severe in the group of pregnant rats, with implications to the weight of offspring.

Introduction: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most prevalent systemic mycosis in Latin America. This study aimed to evaluate the natural history of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis-induced experimental arthritis of the knee joints in Wistar rats. Methods: Rats were randomly allocated to either an absolute control group, or 15-day, 45-day, or 90-day experimental (fungusinoculated) groups. Results: Experimental groups developed classic signs of articular PCM. Titers of anti-gp43 were observed to increase during the interval from 15 to 45 days post-inoculation. Conclusions: Articular arthritic lesions were induced and progressed during the study period in all experimental groups.

AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy with Brilliant Blue G in the treatment of an experimental model of arthritis by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (P. brasiliensis). METHODS: After the induction of experimental arthritis with isolated from P. brasiliensis of lineage Pb18 in the knees of Wistar rats, the animals were divided into groups and submitted to photodynamic therapy with intra-articular Brilliant Blue G photosensitizer and laser therapy only, without Brilliant Blue G. All groups received their respective treatments from the seventh to the 11th day. For edema analysis, the knee lateral-lateral diameter of each animal was measured daily and after the treatment period the animals were sacrificed for experimental knee dissection and blood collection for analysis by ELISA, in order to quantify levels of anti-P. brasiliensis antibodies. RESULTS: The results showed that the application of photodynamic therapy was able to prevent the formation of edema when compared to the control (p>0.005), as well as the production of anti-Gp-43 antibodies from P. brasiliensis (p=0.001). In the anatomopathological examination it was possible to observe a higher degree of synovitis and a greater presence of granulomas with the fungus inside the group that did not receive treatment when compared to the groups that received the photodynamic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Photodynamic therapy was effective in attenuating the experimental arthritis induced by P. brasiliensis in the proposed joint model.

The antifungals used in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis, although effective, can have side effects and high cost, which may not occur with the medicinal use of ozone. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of medicinal home ozone therapy on C. albicans. The experiment was carried out in vitro, cultivating C. albicans in 10mm Petri dishes, containing solid Agar Sabour and Dextrose (Oxoid). The in vivo experiment used 45-day-old female C57/BL6 mice and after suppression of ovarian activity, 20 µL of C. albicans suspension in sterile PBS, at a concentration of 105 yeast cells, were inoculated in a single dose under anesthesia. Distribution occurred in 4 groups: (i) Absolute Control Group (GCA): Not subjected to infection by the pathogen. (ii) Control Group (CG): Submitted to C. albicans infection, but not treated. (iii) Ozone Therapy Group (GO): Subjected to infection and treated with medicinal ozone therapy. (iv) Lavage Group (GL): Subjected to infection and subsequently treated with vaginal lavage. It was found that GC had a higher amount of CFU when compared to GO. Exposure for 600s was able to reduce the number of CFUs by 98.89% when compared to GC. The study concludes that ozone gas showed great efficacy in the proliferation of C. albicans in vitro. The best results were observed with application in liquid medium, however, ozone therapy was able to significantly reduce infection in the experimental model used. In in vivo experiments, the number of CFU/ml found was lower in the ozone-treated group.

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