Medical mycology最新文献

{"title":"Canine coccidioidomycosis in Argentina: Epidemiological trends and evaluation of a rapid diagnostic assay.","authors":"Mariana Noelia Viale, Patricia Evangelina Mansilla, Diego H Cáceres, Flavia Gisele Vivot, María Cecilia López-Joffre, Jorge Alberto Iglesias Casal, Paola Alejandra Soldá, Adriana Inés Toranzo, Cristina Elena Canteros","doi":"10.1093/mmy/myag027","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mmy/myag027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Coccidioidomycosis is an endemic fungal infection in northwestern Argentina, where domestic dogs serve as epidemiological sentinels. This study updates the epidemiology of canine coccidioidomycosis from 2015 to 2024 and assesses the performance of a lateral flow assay (LFA) for antibody detection. During this period, 1 734 serum specimens were evaluated by agar gel immunodiffusion (ID) at the hospital in the main endemic region, of which 506 (29%) tested positive, representing an increase compared with the previous decade. This rise reflects strengthened surveillance, improved access to reagents through the National Mycology Network, and heightened veterinary awareness. In 2 years of active surveillance (2019-2021), we obtained clinical and epidemiological information from 72 seropositive dogs, showing that musculoskeletal signs, particularly limb pain and lameness, were the most frequent presentations, consistent with disseminated disease. More than 60% of dogs were primarily indoor animals, suggesting local acquisition of infection and emphasizing the potential risk of human exposure. To compare serological methods, 225 sera sent for diagnosis by ID were tested by LFA and counterimmunoelectrophoresis. The LFA demonstrated very good agreement with both reference methods and provided the shortest turnaround time, supporting its utility as a rapid screening tool in veterinary practice. However, limitations include the lack of specimens from dogs with other mycoses and the inability to evaluate test performance in acute disease, where sensitivity may be reduced. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of canine surveillance, clinician awareness, and accessible diagnostic tools to improve the early recognition and management of coccidioidomycosis in endemic regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":18586,"journal":{"name":"Medical mycology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147574753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of the vaginal microbiome and its metabolic potential in Colombian patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.","authors":"Jeiser Marcelo Consuegra-Asprilla, Yesid Cuesta-Astroz, Ángel González","doi":"10.1093/mmy/myag026","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mmy/myag026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is a multifactorial condition in which vaginal microbiota dysbiosis plays a key role. This study aimed to characterize the vaginal microbiome of patients with RVVC using metagenomic sequencing. Vaginal scraping samples were collected from 34 women aged 20-47 years and classified into three groups: (1) 14 women with RVVC who had experienced 3-7 episodes of VVC in the previous year; (2) 9 women with severe RVVC, defined as ≥8 episodes in the last year; and (3) 11 healthy women as controls. The results revealed an increased relative abundance of bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis-including Gardnerella vaginalis, G. swidsinskii, and Prevotella bivia-as well as higher levels of Lactobacillus iners in both RVVC groups. In contrast, healthy women showed a greater abundance of L. crispatus and L. gasseri. Diversity analyses indicated lower α-diversity in the healthy group compared to RVVC patients. Metabolic potential profiling showed a differential increase in sequences related to the phosphotransferase system, fructose/mannose metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway, and cysteine/methionine and purine metabolism in RVVC groups relative to controls; no significant differences were observed between RVVC groups, indicating that microbial profiles alone do not correlate with the degree of disease severity. These findings provide relevant insights into the taxonomic and functional characteristics of the vaginal microbiome in women with RVVC and may support the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":18586,"journal":{"name":"Medical mycology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13061635/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147513329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New clinical and genomic insights into paracoccidioidomycosis in Paraguay: A neglected endemic area.","authors":"Luz Rocio Chamorro Correa, Daniel R Kollath, Bernardo Guerra Tenório, Amiliana Beatriz Pineda Fretez, João Paulo Romualdo Alarcão Bernardes, Gladys Melisa Florentin Candia, Fernando Ariel Arévalos Ocampos, Maria Teresa Montserrat Aldama Negrete, Olga Maria Aldama, Daniel R Matute, Bridget M Barker, Maria Sueli Felipe, José Guillermo Pereira Brunelli, Marcus de Melo Teixeira","doi":"10.1093/mmy/myag031","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mmy/myag031","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic fungal infection caused by Paracoccidioides spp., predominantly affecting individuals in Latin America. While extensive epidemiological and molecular studies have been conducted in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, where PCM is a recognized public health concern, Paraguay remains largely overlooked. The scarcity of epidemiological and molecular data hinders accurate disease surveillance, early diagnosis, and effective treatment strategies. This study provides the first comprehensive epidemiological and molecular characterization of PCM in Paraguay. We report the patient demographics, clinical presentations of PCM patients, and estimates of genetic diversity among isolates. A retrospective analysis of 66 confirmed PCM cases from the Mycology Section at the Center for Dermatological Specialties in San Lorenzo (2014-2024) was conducted. Diagnoses were confirmed through direct microscopy or fungal culture, and clinical isolates were genotyped using whole-genome sequencing. Findings indicate that PCM is more common among male patients, as 69% were agricultural workers representing high occupational risk. The chronic form was the most prevalent, commonly affecting the lungs and mucosa in males 40-60 years of age. Less frequent manifestations included the kidneys, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and adrenal glands. Most PCM cases were treated with itraconazole; severe cases received amphotericin B. Molecular analysis demonstrated that Paraguayan isolates belong to both S1b and S1a clades; however, they are distinct from Argentina and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. These findings highlight the complexity of P. brasiliensis population structure in South America, emphasizing the need for enhanced diagnostic and treatment strategies in endemic regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":18586,"journal":{"name":"Medical mycology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13123521/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147674996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Community-level Health and Socioeconomic Disparities in Coccidioidomycosis: Insights from the Social Deprivation and Healthy Places Indices.","authors":"Nikhil Nair, Eshana Kaur, Pavel Diaz, Alec Chan Golston, Geetha Sivasubramanian","doi":"10.1093/mmy/myag001","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mmy/myag001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) is endemic to California's Central Valley, a region marked by socioeconomic disadvantage and health disparities. We retrospectively reviewed 72 adults with new or active disease seen at a tertiary referral center between January and June 2022. Nearly all patients lived in areas with high Social Deprivation Index and low Healthy Places Index (HPI) scores (assigned by residential ZIP code), reflecting marked neighborhood-level disadvantage. Over half required hospitalization and one-third developed complicated pulmonary or disseminated disease. Lower HPI scores were modestly associated with hospitalization, suggesting community disadvantage may contribute to Valley Fever disparities.</p>","PeriodicalId":18586,"journal":{"name":"Medical mycology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13123522/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145933959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential therapeutic targets for Cryptococcus.","authors":"Jing Liu, Xiaozhuo Dong, Yemei Huang, Hengyu Deng, Yangyu Zhou, Enqi Zhao, Xuelei Zang, Ziqi Zhao, Xinying Xue","doi":"10.1093/mmy/myag015","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mmy/myag015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cryptococcus is a deadly opportunistic pathogenic fungus that causes severe infections such as meningitis in immunocompromised patients. Current antifungal therapeutics face the problem of drug resistance and the limitation of high side effects, and there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies. The growth and pathogenicity of Cryptococcus depend on its complex metabolic network, and by interfering with the metabolic pathways of Cryptococcus, its virulence can be effectively reduced and the immune response of the host enhanced. This paper systematically summarizes the potential therapeutic targets of protein, sugar, lipid, and metal metabolism of Cryptococcus and their mechanisms of action, which provides theoretical support for the development of novel antifungal drugs and brings new hope to the growing problem of fungal infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":18586,"journal":{"name":"Medical mycology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147290510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Whole genome analysis of azole-resistant Candida tropicalis candidemia outbreak in a haematology ward: A single centre experience.","authors":"Xue Ting Tan, Abdul Hadi Siti Rohani, Hong Keng Liew, Lee Lee Low","doi":"10.1093/mmy/myag020","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mmy/myag020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The emergence of azole-resistant Candida tropicalis poses a significant threat in healthcare settings. It contributed to high morbidity and mortality, particularly in those undergoing chemotherapy for haematological diseases. In this study, we investigated a suspected outbreak in the haematology ward of Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah involving three patients, using whole genome sequencing. Azole-resistant C. tropicalis was isolated from all patients during episodes of neutropenic sepsis following chemotherapy. The index patient developed breakthrough candidemia while receiving fluconazole prophylaxis. Subsequently, the second and third patients developed candidemia occurring four days apart. Consequently, phylogenetic analysis confirmed that these isolates formed a clade closely related to other C. tropicalis strains, indicating a clonal nosocomial transmission. Further analysis demonstrated that, among key azole resistance genes, mutations were specifically identified in ERG11. Our findings underscore the critical role of genomic surveillance in uncovering transmission chains of multidrug-resistant fungal pathogens and highlight an urgent need for reinforced infection control measures to contain the spread of this clone.</p>","PeriodicalId":18586,"journal":{"name":"Medical mycology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147307634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dermatophyte speciation processes reconciled with current phylogenetic species concepts.","authors":"Richard C Summerbell, James A Scott","doi":"10.1093/mmy/myag017","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mmy/myag017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The family Arthrodermataceae, the dermatophytes and allies, ancestrally began with Ascomycetous bifactorial sexual cycles built into an ecology that also featured considerable clonal propagation via conidia. When keratinolytic capabilities made ecological crossover to dermatopathogenicity possible, that conventional cycle, requiring moist, deposited keratinous material, could only be maintained by pathogens infecting animals burrowing or denning in habitats with soil. Lineages adapted to animals not nesting in soil became established clonally from representatives of single mating types. They became transformed in morphology and physiology, tending to develop reduced conidiation and more exogenous growth factor requirements in addition to retaining specific host adaptations. Viewing this speciation process through the lens of population biology tools designed for interbreeding populations can give a distorted picture, since the often ecologically neutral factors considered, like spacer regions, introns, restriction sites and single nucleotide polymorphisms, likely have a slower rate of change over time than the directly adaptive factors enabling these unifactorial radiate host switching events. The current state of species concepts in the dermatophytes and related, mostly nonpathogenic dermatophytoids is reviewed in light of this contrast of perspectives. Practical steps that can be taken in the clinical laboratory to make accurate identifications based on accurate species concepts are addressed. Some species concepts are supported in lineages that have previously reduced to lower rank, such as Trichophyton indotineae, T. interdigitale, and T. soudanense. The diversity of internal transcribed spacer barcodes in T. tonsurans suggests that research into clinical differences among genotypes is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":18586,"journal":{"name":"Medical mycology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147271262","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Co-variation between blood stream infections with Candida species versus Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and other isolates among 60 ICU patient cohorts.","authors":"James C Hurley","doi":"10.1093/mmy/myag023","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mmy/myag023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcal species, Coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Acinetobacter species, and Candida species are common blood stream infection (BSI) isolates among intensive care unit (ICU) cohorts. That Candida species might interact with bacteria at mucosal surfaces to facilitate invasive infections prompts the question as to the degree of co-variance between Candida species versus bacteria among BSI isolates.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To estimate the co-variance between Candida species versus each of these five bacteria as BSI isolates among ICU patient cohorts.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The literature was searched opportunistically for studies reporting ICU patient cohorts listing Candida species among BSI isolates. The associations of the BSI incidence proportion per 100 patients were converted to logits and modelled using ellipse plots.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The median overall BSI incidence proportion was 7.8% (interquartile range; 4.8%-11.6%). Among 60 cohorts (50 publications), correlation with the incidence proportion of Candidemia was apparent for Acinetobacter species (correlation coefficient = 0.69), Staphylococcus aureus (0.47), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.4) but less so for Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (0.37) and Enterococcal species (0.32).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There are various degrees of co-variance between the BSI incidence proportion amongst the five types of bacteria and Candida species among ICU cohorts.</p>","PeriodicalId":18586,"journal":{"name":"Medical mycology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13037462/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147486629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rhino-sino-orbital and/or central nervous system infections due to Lomentospora prolificans and Scedosporium spp. in onco-haematology patients.","authors":"Enric Sastre-Escolà, Michelle K Yong, Shio Yen Tio, Abby Douglas, C Orla Morrissey, Gemma Reynolds, Lynette Chee, Ashish Bajel, John H Rex, Monica Slavin, Chin Fen Neoh","doi":"10.1093/mmy/myag016","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mmy/myag016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lomentospora prolificans and Scedosporium spp. are emerging non-Aspergillus moulds causing invasive fungal disease (IFD) in onco-haematology patients. Rhino-sino-orbital and/or central nervous system (CNS) infections are poorly described yet associated with high mortality. We aimed to characterize clinical, microbiological, treatment, and outcome features of rhino-sino-orbital and/or CNS infections due to these moulds in an onco-haematology population. We retrospectively reviewed proven/probable IFD patients with rhino-sino-orbital and/or CNS involvement from 2010 to 2024 caused by L. prolificans and Scedosporium spp. at two Australian tertiary centres in adults with cancer. Eighteen episodes were analysed; 94.5% had haematological malignancy, mainly acute myeloid leukaemia (41.5%), and 53% were haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Lomentospora prolificans predominated (83%) and displayed intrinsic resistance to conventional antifungals. Olorofim showed potent in vitro activity when tested (n = 5, MIC 0.125-0.5 mg/l). Disseminated disease occurred in 78%, mainly affecting lung (79%), CNS (64%), and eye (43%). Initial combination therapy with a voriconazole and terbinafine-including regimen was used in 87.5% and surgery in 50%; olorofim was administered to five patients. Overall mortality was high: 56% at 30-day and 67% at 180-day follow-up, with early death noted if there was CNS involvement (70%). Lower 30-day and 180-day mortality was observed in localized rhino-sino-orbital and Scedosporium spp. infections (0% and 20%, respectively), particularly when surgery and olorofim were used. Our results underline the high mortality from L. prolificans infections in onco-haematology patients with disseminated disease or CNS involvement. Early aggressive surgery and novel antifungals may improve outcomes, but prospective multicentre studies are needed to define optimal treatment strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":18586,"journal":{"name":"Medical mycology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146258558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pretransplant serologic testing for fungal infections in a large commercial health insurance database, United States.","authors":"Kaitlin Benedict, Jeremy A W Gold, Mitsuru Toda, Jessica S Little, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner","doi":"10.1093/mmy/myag018","DOIUrl":"10.1093/mmy/myag018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Reactivation of latent fungal infections poses a substantial risk for solid organ transplantation (SOT) and hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients. We describe receipt of pretransplant fungal infection testing in an exploratory analysis among patients in a large US commercial health insurance database. We identified patients who received an SOT or HCT during January 1, 2018-January 31, 2025, and evaluated testing practices for selected fungal (blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis) and non-fungal infections (including hepatitis B virus [HBV], hepatitis C virus [HCV], HIV, cytomegalovirus [CMV], and tuberculosis) in the year before transplantation. In total, 8.9% of 11 362 SOT and 13.0% of 6 934 HCT recipients received pretransplant fungal testing. Among SOT recipients, Coccidioides antibody was the most frequent fungal test type (5.0%), with the highest rates in states with known endemicity (e.g., Arizona: 58.7%). Among HCT recipients, cryptococcal antigen testing was the most common fungal test type (5.2%). Testing rates for viral infections and tuberculosis were substantially higher compared with fungal infection testing: HBV (SOT: 65.1%, HCT: 73.4%), HCV (SOT: 55.8%, HCT: 71.1%), HIV (SOT: 45.5%, HCT: 66.3%), CMV (SOT: 41.7%, HCT: 65.9%), and tuberculosis (SOT: 38.0%, HCT: 16.8%). Pretransplant fungal infection testing was infrequently performed compared with recommended viral and tuberculosis screening, consistent with current guidelines. Further research to understand the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness associated with pretransplant fungal testing could help improve approaches for targeted screening.</p>","PeriodicalId":18586,"journal":{"name":"Medical mycology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147284493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}