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Sporothrix chilensis is a mild-pathogenical specie of Sporothrix pallida complex, until now, known as restrict to Chile. Herein, we describe the first clinical isolates identified as S. chilensis in Brazil, preserved in the URM Culture Collection, by polyphasic taxonomy, and their respective antifungal profile of this emergent fungus.

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Cryptococcal meningitis is a serious infection of the central nervous system that is predominant in developing countries, caused by fungi of the genus Cryptococcus, and which affects immunosuppressed patients, especially those with HIV. Here, we aim to diagnose and characterize the clinical–epidemiological profile of cryptococcosis in patients admitted to two tertiary public hospitals in northeastern Brazil. The study is divided into three moments: (1) the isolation of fungus and diagnosis from biological samples collected between 2017 and 2019, (2) a description of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients, and (3) the experimental tests related to an in vitro susceptibility antifungal profile. The species were identified by MALDI-TOF/MS. Among the 100 patients evaluated, 24 (24.5%) were diagnosed with cryptococcosis based on positive culture. Clinical–epidemiological analysis showed a slightly higher prevalence in men between 30 and 39 years. When comparing the date of HIV diagnosis and the development of cryptococcosis, it was observed that 50% received the diagnosis of infection by cryptococcosis after or equal to a period of 12 months from being diagnosed with HIV; the other 50% received it within the first 30 days of the HIV diagnosis. Neurocryptococcosis was the most prevalent clinical form, and, at the time of hospital admission, the most common clinical signs were high fever (75%), intense headache (62.50%), and neck stiffness (33.33%). The cerebrospinal fluid showed 100% sensitivity and positivity for direct examination by India ink, and fungal culture. The mortality rate in this study was 46% (11/24), a lower rate than in the other literature. An antifungigram showed that 20 (83.33%) isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B and 15 (62.5%) to fluconazole. Mass spectrometry identified 100% of the isolates as Cryptococcus neoformans. In Brazil, this infection is not mandatory notifiable. Therefore, although there is little information on the subject, it is obsolete and does not express the reality of the facts, mainly in the northeast region, where this information is insufficient. The data obtained in this research contribute to the epidemiological knowledge of this mycosis in Brazil and will serve as a basis for future globally comparative epidemiological studies.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo identificar casos positivos de sangue oculto nas fezes e correlacionar com a presença de enteroparasitoses nos exames parasitológicos de fezes (EPF). As coletas das amostras foram feitas no lar do idoso no Município de São José do Egito-PE, amostra composta por 20 idosos em idade > 60 anos, de ambos os sexos. Para a realização da pesquisa de sangue oculto nas fezes, foi utilizada a técnica de imunocromatografia, a análise dos EPF foi aplicada a Técnica de Hoffman. O estudo observou a ausência de sangue nas fezes dos idosos (100% testes negativo), entretanto nas EPFs analisadas, 45% dos idosos apresentaram algum tipo de protozoários, sendo o gênero masculino o de maior positividade (66,7%). As espécies de protozoários encontrados foram cistos de Endolimax nana (54,5%), Giardia lamblia (18,2%), Entamoeba coli (18,2%) e Entamoeba histolytica / díspar (9,1%). Concluiu-se que essa instituição apresenta uma incidência quase nula de risco parasitológico, pois devido a um grande rigor na higiene alimentar, pessoal e a um amplo espaço geográfico conservado, os fatores que permitem melhor condição de vida aos internos é preservado pelo lar do idoso.

IntroductionOnychomycosis is a disease that affects the finger and toenails, of both men and women, but is infrequently found in children. The etiological agents are yeasts, dermatophytes and non-dermatophytic filamentous fungi (NDFF). In recent decades the number of cases of onychomycosis has been rising, due to population growth and extensive therapies with antibiotics and corticoids [1][2][3]. The clinical aspect of onychomycosis can vary among hyperkeratosis, change in nail color and distal detachment of the nail plate, and it can be misdiagnosed as other diseases, such as paronychia, psoriasis and lichen planus [4].