Neglected fungal zoonoses: hidden threats to man and animals

Abstract

Zoonotic fungi can be naturally transmitted between animals and humans, and in some cases cause significant public health problems. A number of mycoses associated with zoonotic transmission are among the group of the most common fungal diseases, worldwide. It is, however, notable that some fungal diseases with zoonotic potential have lacked adequate attention in international public health efforts, leading to insufficient attention on their preventive strategies. This review aims to highlight some mycoses whose zoonotic potential received less attention, including infections caused by Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei, Lacazia loboi, Emmonsia spp., Basidiobolus ranarum, Conidiobolus spp. and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Pulmonary adiaspiromycosis in the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) inhabiting Poland

“…infection, based on their morphology, and histopathological and histochemical findings, which were similar to previous reports (Morner et al 1999, Malatesta et al 2014, Matsuda et al 2015. Unfortunately, we could not confirm the species (because of the lack of fresh-frozen lung tissue samples); however, considering the worldwide distribution, E. crescens infection is the most probable (Seyedmousavi et al 2015). The adiaspores were surrounded by chronic granulomatous inflammation with macrophages, Langhans multinucleated giant cells, lymphocytes, some plasma cells, neutrophils, single eosinophils and fibroblasts.…”

“…The lungs also revealed interstitial inflammation, emphysema, and focal thickening of pleura. The pulmonary lesions were more severe in the case with more adiaspores, which was consisted with the observations that the degree of infection is determined by the number of spores inhaled (Seyedmousavi et al 2015). Severe pulmonary lesions were observed in the male European beaver, which was in poor physical condition, with sparse subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue.…”

“…This infection is distributed worldwide, especially among small free-living mammals eg. mice, rats, hedgehogs, otters, ground squirrels, skunks, armadillos, rabbits, mink, weasels and Correspondence to: Izabella Dolka, e-mail: izabella -dolka@sggw.pl raccoons (Seyedmousavi et al 2015). To date, only one study has demonstrated adiaspiromycosis in a Eurasian beaver (Morner et al 1999).…”

Overview of Zoonotic Diseases in Turkey: The One Health Concept and Future Threats

“…crescens is prevalent in continental Europe and England, whereas E. parva occurs in Asian, African, and American continents. Emmonsia species are environmental pathogens and their transmission to the host is possible by inhalation of their spores (230). In Turkey, some adiaspiromycosis cases were reported from several small wild mammals (237).…”

“…The pathogen lives in the soil as its natural habitat and endemically occurs in south Asian countries. Bamboo rats and dogs can serve as reservoirs for the pathogen in endemic areas; important points about the zoonotic nature of its transmission is remains unknown (230). Penicillium spp was found as predominant allergen (46%) in a study that was carried out to investigate fungus species at atmospheric air of elementary schools in the Denizli province of the Aegean region, Turkey (231).…”