Thiabendazole, classified as antiparasitic and also used as an antifungal drug, can be found as otological solution indicated for treatment of parasitic and fungal external otitis in small animals. Malassezia pachydermatis is a yeast recognized as a normal inhabitant on the skin and mucous membranes of dogs and cats. However, it is considered an opportunistic agent that causes external otitis and dermatitis in these animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effect of thiabendazole against 51 isolates of M. pachydermatis using the CLSI Broth Microdilution method that has been adapted for this yeast species (NCCLS, 2002). Based on this test, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of thiabendazol was calculated. Subsequently, the susceptibility of each isolate against this antifungal was determined. It was observed that the MIC of thiabendazole against M. pachydermatis ranged from 0.03 to > 4 µg/mL. A total of 13.7% of the isolates were found to be resistant, 47.1% were intermediate and 39.2% were sensitive to the drug. The rate of resistance of the yeasts against thiabendazole was similar to the results previously obtained with other antifungals, while the adapted broth microdilution technique used in this study proved to be efficient.

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RESUMOIntrodução: O Cryptococcus neoformans é uma levedura capsulada, agente etiológico da criptococose em humanos e animais, encontrado em fontes ambientais, incluindo excretas de pombos, é uma importante causa de mortalidade em indivíduos imunodeprimidos em todo o mundo. Métodos: com o objetivo de verificar a ocorrência do Cryptococcus neoformans, em excretas de pombos, na cidade de Pelotas, pesquisou-se 70 ambientes, incluindo prédios, praças e locais ao ar livre, da cidade de Pelotas, RS. Após a coleta, os excrementos foram adicionados de salina com cloranfenicol, homogeneizados, semeados em ágar Sabouraud com cloranfenicol e ágar Níger e incubados a 32ºc. Para identificação, realizou-se exame direto, prova da fenoloxidase, urease, assimilação de carboidratos e cultura em meio cGB. Resultados: Dos locais estudados (nº =70), em 26 (37,1%) havia excretas de pombos. Estes lugares foram representados por prédios históricos (nº =8), torre de igreja (nº =1), engenhos e armazéns de arroz (nº =7), praça (nº =1) e locais ao ar livre (nº =9), o isolamento de Cryptococcus neoformans ocorreu em 26,9% (nº =7/26), destes locais. Conclusões: O estudo chama a atenção, para o isolamento do fungo em áreas urbanas, que apresentavam grande acúmulo de excretas, indicando um risco para a saúde pública, especialmente para indivíduos imunocomprometidos. Palavras-chaves: Cryptococcus neoformans. Excretas. Pombos. Ambiente. Urbano. ABSTRACT Introduction:Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast and is the etiological agent for human and animal cryptococcosis. It is found in sources within the environment, including pigeon excrement, and is an important cause of mortality among immunocompromised individuals worldwide. Methods: Seventy different environments in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, were surveyed for the purpose of investigating Cryptococcus neoformans occurrences in pigeon excreta. The environments included buildings, public squares and outdoor locations in the city. After collection, chloramphenicol saline solution was added to the excreta, which were then homogenized and seeded onto Sabouraud agar with chloramphenicol and onto Niger agar, and incubated at 32°c. Identification was performed by direct examination and by means of the phenoloxidase and urease tests, carbohydrate assimilation and culturing in cGB medium. Results: Out of the sites investigated (n = 70), 26 (37.1%) of them contained pigeon excreta. These included historical buildings (n = 8), a church tower (n = 1), rice mills and warehouses (n = 7), a public square (n = 1) and outdoor locations (n = 9). Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from 26.9% (n = 7/26) of these locations. Conclusions: This study draws attention to isolation of this fungus in urban areas that present large accumulations of pigeon excrement. This represents a risk to public health, especially for immunocompromised individuals.

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Yeasts are commensal organisms found in the skin, genital and gastrointestinal tracts, and other mucosa in mammalians. Candida spp has been frequently isolated from domestic and sylvan animals. Yeast isolation from vaginal mucus is frequent in women, especially of Candida genus. In canine females, however, studies about vaginal fungal microbiota are rare and the connection with estrous cycle is unknown. The purpose of this study was to isolate yeast 5 of Candida genus from healthy canine females and identify the isolated species, establishing their connection with estrous cycle phases. Two hundred twenty-four samples taken from vaginal mucus of 14 canine females were analyzed in this study. Candida spp was observed in 83 (37%) from these samples; nine samples were taken in proestrus, 14 in oestrus, 31 in dioestrus, 24 in anoestrus and five samples were obtained during pregnancy. Candida parapsilosis the most frequently isolated specie (21.7%), followed by C. guillermondii (8.4%), C. kefir (6%) and C. albicans (4.8%). We concluded that Candida spp is a commion component of healthy canine females' vaginal microbiota, and isolation varies according to the estrous cycle phase.

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RESUMO Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus e A. niger são os mais importantes agentes etiológicos da aspergilose, relevante micose aviária, com tratamento ineficaz e altas taxas de mortalidade. Em vista da importância da aspergilose, da necessidade de prospectar novos fármacos e do potencial terapêutico do óleo essencial de Origanum vulgare L. (OEO), o orégano, objetivou-se avaliar a sensibilidade in vitro de isolados clínicos de Aspergillus spp. em relação ao OEO. O óleo foi obtido por hidrodestilação em Clevenger, e a análise química realizada por cromatografia de massa (GC/MS). Observaram-se 15 diferentes compostos ativos, sendo 4-terpineol, hidrato de sabinene e timol os majoritários. Nos testes de microdiluição em caldo (Reference..., 2008), todos os isolados (n= 23) foram sensíveis ao OEO: A. fumigatus teve CIM entre 28,125mg/mL (0,1875%) e 450mg/mL (3,0%), A. flavus entre 112,5mg/mL (0,75%) e 450mg/mL, e A. niger 112,5mg/mL. CFM variou de 112,5mg/mL a 450mg/mL nos isolados de A. fumigatus, de 225mg/mL (1,5%) a 450mg/mL em A. flavus, e foi de 450mg/mL em A. niger. CIM e CFM foram idênticos em 6/14 isolados, o que demonstra que o óleo com a mesma concentração pode ter capacidade fungistática e fungicida. CIM 90 correspondeu à CIM máxima. Os resultados demonstram a atividade anti-Aspergillus do OEO, com CIM 90 de 450mg/mL (3%).