Spectrum of Filamentous Fungi from Sputum of Tuberculosis Relapse and Retreatment Patients in Tuberculosis Reference Facilities

Background: Fungal infections represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised individuals. Pulmonary fungal infection may be missed or misdiagnosed as tuberculosis (TB) hence complicating management of these patients. The current study reports the spectrum of filamentous fungi isolated from sputum of TB relapse and retreatment cases at selected reference facilities in Kenya. Methods: A total of 340 sputum samples collected during the period of June 2018 to June 2019 were subjected to mycological investigations. The samples were mucolysed and inoculated on sabourauds dextrose agar (SDA) and incubated at 30°C for 7 days and checked daily for fungal growth. Moulds were identified by macroscopic and microscopic morphological features and the species were confirmed by sequencing. Results: The diversity of fungi out of the 340 sputum samples analyzed was as follows;16% (n = 53) were positive for moulds with Aspergillus species being the predominant constituting 68 % (n = 36). Among the Aspergilli, A. flavus and A. niger were the most frequently isolated adding up to 23%, (n = 12) and 15% (n = 8) respectively. Additionally, Paecillomyces variotii (9%, n = 5), Scedosporium aspiospermum (6%, n = 3), Mucor racemosus (8%, n = 4) and Penicillium spp. (9%, n = 5) were also recovered. Conclusion: The isolated fungi represented potential respiratory pathogens that could be responsible for persistent TB like symptoms despite treatment that could be misdiagnosed as relapse requiring treatment. Fungal investigation of all presumptive TB relapse cases should be advocated before treatment. This will reduce unnecessary retreatment, delayed antifungal intervention and unwarranted morbidity and mortality associated with misdiagnosis.

Familial White Piedra Caused by Trichosporon inkin

White piedra is a superficial, chronic, asymptomatic mycoses caused by yeast fungi of the genus Trichosporon. It affects the hair, especially of the head, less frequently of the pubis, perineum, armpit, beard, mustache, eyebrows and eyelashes, and is characterized by the formation of soft nodules or fungal clusters. It affects all age groups and both sexes, predominantly women. Diagnosis is made by direct examination of the affected hair and culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar. The identification of species occurs through more specific identification procedures, such as mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and PCR). The objective of this work is to report two cases of familial white piedra caused by T. inkin identified by PCR.

Phylogeny,ecology and taxonomy of systemic pathogens and their relatives in Ajellomycetaceae(Onygenales):Blastomyces,Emergomyces,Emmonsia,Emmonsiellopsis

The family Ajellomycetaceae(Onygenales)includes mammal-associated pathogens within the genera Blastomyces,Emmonsia,Histoplasma and Paracoccidioides,as well as the recently described genera,Emergomyces that causes disease in immunocompromised hosts,and Emmonsiellopsis,known only from soil.To further assess the phylogenetic relationships among and between members of these genera and several previously undescribed species,we sequenced and analyzed the DNA-directed RNA polymerase II(rPB2),translation elongation factor 3-a(TEF3),b-tubulin(TUB2),28S large subunit rDNA(LSU)and the internal transcribed spacer regions(ITS)in 68 strains,in addition to morphological and physiological investigations.To better understand the thermal dimorphism among these fungi,the dynamic process of transformation from mycelial to yeast-like or adiaspore-like forms was also assessed over a range of temperatures(6–42C).Molecular data resolved the relationships and recognized five major well-supported lineages that correspond largely to the genus level.Emmonsia,typified by Emmonsia parva,is a synonym of Blastomyces that also accommodates Blastomyces helicus(formerly Emmonsia helica).Emmonsia crescens is phylogenetically distinct,and found closely related to a single strain from soil without known etiology.Blastomyces silverae,Emergomyces canadensis,Emergomyces europaeus and Emmonsia sola are newly described.Almost all of the taxa are associated with human and animal disease.Emmonsia crescens,B.dermatitidis and B.parvus are prevalently associated with pulmonary disease in humans or animals.Blastomyces helicus,B.percursus,Emergomyces africanus,Es.canadensis,Es.europaeus,Es.orientalis and Es.pasteurianus(formerly Emmonsia pasteuriana)are predominantly found in human hosts with immune disorders;no animal hosts are known for these species except B.helicus.

Taxonomy of Ochroconis, genus including opportunistic pathogens on humans and animals

The genus Ochroconis(Sympoventuriaceae,Venturiales)is revised and currently contains 13 species for which the phylogenetic position has been determined using multilocus sequencing.The older generic name Scolecobasidium is considered to be of doubtful identity because the type specimen is ambiguous.Within the Ochroconis lineage,phylogenetic distances of all markers analyzed are exceptionally large,both between and within species.A new genus Verruconis is proposed for the neurotropic opportunist Ochroconis gallopava.Species accepted within the lineages are keyed out on the basis of phenotypic characters.Main ecological traits within each species are discussed.Verruconis species are thermophilic and one of them is an important agent of infection in the brain,while Ochroconis is mesophilic,several species causing infections in cold-blooded animals.

Fungal diversity notes 929-1035:taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungi

This article is the ninth in the series of Fungal Diversity Notes,where 107 taxa distributed in three phyla,nine classes,31 orders and 57 families are described and illustrated.Taxa described in the present study include 12 new genera,74 new species,three new combinations,two reference specimens,a re-circumscription of the epitype,and 15 records of sexualasexual morph connections,new hosts and new geographical distributions.Twelve new genera comprise Brunneofusispora,Brunneomurispora,Liua,Lonicericola,Neoeutypella,Paratrimmatostroma,Parazalerion,Proliferophorum,Pseudoastrosphaeriellopsis,Septomelanconiella,Velebitea and Vicosamyces.Seventy-four new species are Agaricus memnonius,A.langensis,Aleurodiscus patagonicus,Amanita flavoalba,A.subtropicana,Amphisphaeria mangrovei,Baorangia major,Bartalinia kunmingensis,Brunneofusispora sinensis,Brunneomurispora lonicerae,Capronia camelliaeyunnanensis,Clavulina thindii,Coniochaeta simbalensis,Conlarium thailandense,Coprinus trigonosporus,Liua muriformis,Cyphellophora filicis,Cytospora ulmicola,Dacrymyces invisibilis,Dictyocheirospora metroxylonis,Distoseptispora thysanolaenae,Emericellopsis koreana,Galiicola baoshanensis,Hygrocybe lucida,Hypoxylon teeravasati,Hyweljonesia indica,Keissleriella caraganae,Lactarius olivaceopallidus,Lactifluus midnapurensis,Lembosia brigadeirensis,Leptosphaeria urticae,Lonicericola hyaloseptispora,Lophiotrema mucilaginosis,Marasmiellus bicoloripes,Marasmius indojasminodorus,Micropeltis phetchaburiensis,Mucor orantomantidis,Murilentithecium lonicerae,Neobambusicola brunnea,Neoeutypella baoshanensis,Neoroussoella heveae,Neosetophoma lonicerae,Ophiobolus malleolus,Parabambusicola thysanolaenae,Paratrimmatostroma kunmingensis,Parazalerion indica,Penicillium dokdoense,Peroneutypa mangrovei,Phaeosphaeria cycadis,Phanerochaete australosanguinea,Plectosphaerella kunmingensis,Plenodomus artemisiae,P.lijiangensis,Proliferophorum thailandicum,Pseudoastrosphaeriellopsis kaveriana,Pseudohelicomyces menglunicus,Pseudoplagiostoma mangiferae,Robillarda mangiferae,Roussoella elaeicola,Russula choptae,R.uttarakhandia,Septomelanconiella thailandica,Spencermartinsia acericola,Sphaerellopsis isthmospora,Thozetella lithocarpi,Trechispora echinospora,Tremellochaete atlantica,Trichoderma koreanum,T.pinicola,T.rugulosum,Velebitea chrysotexta,Vicosamyces venturisporus,Wojnowiciella kunmingensis and Zopfiella indica.Three new combinations are Baorangia rufomaculata,Lanmaoa pallidorosea and Wojnowiciella rosicola.The reference specimens of Canalisporium kenyense and Tamsiniella labiosa are designated.The epitype of Sarcopeziza sicula is re-circumscribed based on cyto-and histochemical analyses.The sexual-asexual morph connection of Plenodomus sinensis is reported from ferns and Cirsium for the first time.In addition,the new host records and country records are Amanita altipes,A.melleialba,Amarenomyces dactylidis,Chaetosphaeria panamensis,Coniella vitis,Coprinopsis kubickae,Dothiorella sarmentorum,Leptobacillium leptobactrum var.calidus,Muyocopron lithocarpi,Neoroussoella solani,Periconia cortaderiae,Phragmocamarosporium hederae,Sphaerellopsis paraphysata and Sphaeropsis eucalypticola.