Isolation of Fonsecaea pedrosoi from the Shell of the Babassu Coconut (Orbignya phalerata Martius) in the Amazon Region of Maranhao Brazil

Chromoblastomycosis

“…In nature, monoaromates are found in trace amounts in plant debris, thorns, and wood cortex, which provide microhabitats for these fungi (74). There is a strong correlation between the traumatic implantation of potential natural sources of infection and CBM lesions (74)(75)(76)(77)(78)(79)(80). This route of infection may be supported by clinical reports of patients exhibiting the presence of fragments of plant material at the site where they experienced a previous trauma.…”

“…In 1937, Conant thought that Cadophora americana recovered from wood pulp was identical to Phialophora verrucosa, which potentially caused CBM (90), but recently, Feng et al proved that the P. verrucosa complex contains clinical species next to environmental species (91). Phenotypically identified isolates of F. pedrosoi and C. carrionii have been isolated from plant debris, grass, tree cortex, and also abandoned wasp nests (75)(76)(77)(78)(92)(93)(94)(95)(96)(97). After the isolation of a strain identified as F. pedrosoi from a spiny plant (Mimosa pudica), Salgado et al suggested that it might be a probable natural source of CBM infection in the north of Brazil (74), but molecular proof was not provided.…”

“…Local dwellers collect the babassu nuts, which are rich in oil and are a well-known component used by industrial companies for the manufacture of international beauty products. Members of the Chaetothyriales are indeed enriched on babassu shell fragments, which are hypothetically considered a risk factor for the development of cutaneous lesions after labor trauma (78,80,84). The invasive potential of agents differs significantly between species and is as yet only fragmentarily understood.…”

“…Methods are available to isolate saprobic fungi from the environment, but selective methods for pathogens are needed. The use of mammalian vectors, as done previously by Gezuele, Mok, and others, should be repeated with the support of state-of-the-art identification methods (74)(75)(76)(77)(78).…”

Chromoblastomycosis

“…However, most cases are reported in humid tropical and subtropical climate areas of America, Asia and Africa. The highest prevalence rates are reported in Mexico (Oaxaca and Veracruz) [37], Cuba [38], Venezuela [39], the Dominican Republic, Colombia [40] and Brazil (mainly in the region of Amazonia) [13, 41, 42] (Figure 4). …”