Epidemiological study of sporotrichosis and histoplasmosis in captive Latin American wild mammals, S�o Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Sporotrichosis and histoplasmosis are deep mycosis with a high incidence in human beings in Brazil. In domestic animals histoplasmosis has been described only in dogs, but the occurrence of sporotrichosis among domestic animals in Brazil has been described in dogs, cats, mules and asses. There is also a case of this disease reported in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodites). The purpose of this research was to perform an epidomiological study of these mycoses using delayed hypersensitivity tests (histoplasmin and sporotrichin) in Latin American wild mammals. This research was assayed using 96 healthy animals at Parque Zoológico de São Paulo, Brazil: Primates: 33 Cebus apella--weeping-capuchin and 16 Callithrix jacchus--marmoset; Procyonidae: 37 Nasua nasua--coatimundi and 10 Felidae (Panthera onca--jaguar; Felis pardalis--ocelot Felis wiedii--margay; Felis tigrina--wild cat). For intradermic tests, the following antigens were used: Sporothrix schenkii cell suspension (sporotrichin, histoplasmin-filtrate), Histoplasma capsulatum cell suspension (histoplasmin), and Histoplasma capsulatum (polysaccharide). The positivity to histoplasmin was 44.79% (Cebidae 15.15%; Callithricidae 6.25%; Procyonidae 86.49% and Felidae 50.00%, respectively). With respect to sporotrichin, 30.21% (Cebidae 6.06%, Callithricidae 0.0%; Procyonidae 64.86% and Felidae 30.00% respectively). The pattern of infection is similar to that shown by human beings and this may suggest that these animals could be involved in the epidemiologic chain of sporotrichosis and histoplasmosis, the second most prevalent human deep mycoses in Brazil. It is important to point out the absence of similar studies in Latin American wild animals.

Effect of amphotericin B on the lipids of yeast cells of Sporothrix schenckii

“…The fungus infects a human by traumatic implantation into the skin or, rarely, by inhalation, when it lodges in the lungs [1][2][3][4][5]. The disease occurs worldwide, attacks humans and animals and manifests as the cutaneous form (fixed, lymphocutaneous and disseminated) and the less common extracutaneous form (primary pulmonary and disseminated).…”

Epidemiology of sporotrichosis: A study of 304 cases in Brazil

“…9,10 Sporotrichosis is the most common subcutaneous mycosis in Latin America. 11,12 In Brazil, sporotrichosis has been reported since 1907, 13 especially in São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul. [14][15][16][17][18] This justifies our interest in reporting cases of sporotrichosis diagnosed in this geographic area.…”

The prevalence of positive intradermal reactions to paracoccidioidin in domestic and wild animals in São Paulo, Brazil

“…Only 22.4% of arboreal animals were positive on testing with paracoccidioidin (Costa et al, 1994), while 82.9% of terrestrial animals were positive. Only 22.4% of arboreal animals were positive on testing with paracoccidioidin (Costa et al, 1994), while 82.9% of terrestrial animals were positive.…”

“…Previous studies on systemic mycoses in animals in Brazil include paracoccidioidomycosis in domestic (M6s and Fava Netto, 1974;Costa, 1975) and wild animals (Costa et al, 1992); and sporotrichosis and histoplasmosis, also in both domestic (Costa and Fava Netto, 1978) and wild animals (Costa et al, 1994(Costa et al, , 1995.…”