Case report of respiratory aspergillosis and candidiasis in wild Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Brazil

Ewbank, Ana Carolina; Duarte-Benvenuto, Arícia; Zamana, Roberta Ramblas; Navas‐Suárez, Pedro Enrique; Gattamorta, Marco Aurélio; Santos-Costa, Priscilla Carla dos; Catão‐Dias, José Luiz; Sacristán, Carlos

doi:10.1007/s42770-021-00438-x

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Another case was respiratory candidiasis caused by C. palmioleophila in wild Magellanic penguins in Brazil. The autopsy revealed that air sacs and lungs showed marked multifocal to coalescent granulomatous inflammation ( Figure 4 , MN724921) ( Ewbank et al, 2021 ). These results suggested that C. palmioleophila may cause chronic, occult, diffuse lesions, and eventually lead to death in infected individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The first rare case of Candida palmioleophila infection reported in China and its genomic evolution in a human host environment

Chu

et al. 2023

Front. Microbiol.

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IntroductionCandida palmioleophila is a rare human pathogenic fungus, which has been poorly characterized at the genome level. In this study, we reported the first fatal case of C. palmioleophila infection in China and investigate the microevolution of C. palmioleophila in the human host environment.MethodsA series of C. palmioleophila stains were collected from the patient at different time points for routine microbial and drug sensitivity testing. The first C. palmioleophila isolate 07202534 was identified by de novo whole genome sequencing. The in vitro and in vivo genetic evolutionary characteristics of C. palmioleophila were discussed based on the analysis of bioinformatics data.ResultsThe six C. palmioleophila isolates displayed dose-dependent sensitivity to fluconazole. The C. palmioleophila genome contained homologous genes such as CDR1 and MDR1, which were recognized to be related to azole resistance. In addition, amino acid variation was detected at F105L and other important sites of ERG11. In addition, the mean divergence time between C. palmioleophila and Scheffersomyces stipites CBS 6054 was 406.04 million years, indicating that C. palmioleophila originated earlier than its closest relative. In addition, the six strains of C. palmioleophila isolated form the patient had higher homology and fewer mutation sites, which indicated the stability in C. palmioleophila genome. We also found that C. palmioleophila had a wide natural niche and may evolve slowly.DiscussionWe believe that this study will contribute to improve our understanding of the genetic evolution, pathogenicity, and drug resistance of C. palmioleophila and will aid in the prevention and control of its spread.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The first rare case of Candida palmioleophila infection reported in China and its genomic evolution in a human host environment

Chu

et al. 2023

Front. Microbiol.

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“…Candida palmioleophila yeast bodies have been found to be associated with wild populations of the penguin Spheniscus magellanicus [31]. Such interaction in the host-pathogen interface elucidated by the authors indicates a pathogenic species highly resistant to low temperatures and high osmotic levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Candida palmioleophila: A New Emerging Threat in Brazil?

Costa,

Negri,

Miranda

et al. 2023

JoF

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Human activity directly or indirectly causes climate change, promoting changes in the composition of the atmosphere. This change is beyond the variation of the natural climate. In this manner, climate change could create an environmental pressure which is enough to trigger new fungal diseases. In addition to climate alterations, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has also been associated with the emergence of fungal pathogens. Fungi showed that an inability to grow at high temperatures limits the capacity of fungi to infect mammals. However, fungi can develop thermotolerance, gradually adapting to rising temperatures due to climate change, and generating a greater number of disease-causing organisms. In the present study, we reported the detection and identification of Candida palmioleophila isolates recovered from raw sewage samples in Niteroi city, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, during a monitoring program for measuring SARS-CoV-2 presence and concentration. Using polyphasic taxonomy to identify the species and evaluating some virulence aspects of this species, such as biofilm formation and extracellular enzyme production, our data highlight this species as a possible emerging pathogen in Brazil, especially in the pandemic context.

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“…It represents a major limiting factor for the rehabilitation of penguins in captivity [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. On the contrary, aspergillosis in free-ranging birds is only rarely described [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The important susceptibility of birds, and especially penguins, to aspergillosis also results from the scarcity of immune surveillance cells in the air sac system, and the lack of an epiglottis or diaphragm to block the inhalation of the spores [ 10 , 11 ]. In addition to these predisposing factors, external factors including thermal discomfort, overcrowding or stress also contribute to the high incidence of avian aspergillosis in birds in captivity [ 2 , 7 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], as compared to free-ranging birds [ 15 ]. The exposure to high concentrations of Aspergillus conidia is presumed to further enhance the occurrence of aspergillosis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Humboldt Penguins—Susceptibility Patterns and Molecular Epidemiology of Clinical and Environmental Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates from a Belgian Zoo, 2017–2022

et al. 2023

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Aspergillus fumigatus is the main causative agent of avian aspergillosis and results in significant health problems in birds, especially those living in captivity. The fungal contamination by A. fumigatus in the environment of Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti), located in a Belgian zoo, was assessed through the analysis of air, water, sand and nest samples during four non-consecutive days in 2021–2022. From these samples, potential azole-resistant A. fumigatus (ARAF) isolates were detected using a selective culture medium. A total of 28 veterinary isolates obtained after necropsy of Humboldt penguins and other avian species from the zoo were also included. All veterinary and suspected ARAF isolates from the environment were characterized for their azole-resistance profile by broth microdilution. Isolates displaying phenotypic resistance against at least one medical azole were systematically screened for mutations in the cyp51A gene. A total of 14 (13.6%) ARAF isolates were identified from the environment (n = 8) and from Humboldt penguins (n = 6). The TR34/L98H mutation was observed in all resistant environmental strains, and in two resistant veterinary strains. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of this mutation in A. fumigatus isolates from Humboldt penguins. During the period 2017–2022, pulmonary aspergillosis was confirmed in 51 necropsied penguins, which reflects a death rate due to aspergillosis of 68.0%, mostly affecting adults. Microsatellite polymorphism analysis revealed a high level of diversity among environmental and veterinary A. fumigatus isolates. However, a cluster was observed between one veterinary isolate and six environmental strains, all resistant to medical azoles. In conclusion, the environment of the Humboldt penguins is a potential contamination source of ARAF, making their management even more complex.

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Case report of respiratory aspergillosis and candidiasis in wild Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Brazil

Cited by 11 publications

References 48 publications

The first rare case of Candida palmioleophila infection reported in China and its genomic evolution in a human host environment

The first rare case of Candida palmioleophila infection reported in China and its genomic evolution in a human host environment

Candida palmioleophila: A New Emerging Threat in Brazil?

Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Humboldt Penguins—Susceptibility Patterns and Molecular Epidemiology of Clinical and Environmental Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates from a Belgian Zoo, 2017–2022

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