Cladophialophora Carrionii Research Articles

Association of water stress and Fusarium solani exacerbated Dalbergia sissoo dieback disease.

Globally, there is a growing concern about tree mortality due to harsh climates and changes in pest and disease patterns. However, experimental studies on the interactions between biotic and abiotic stresses in plants are relatively scarce. In this study, we investigated the interaction between Fusarium solani and water-stressed Dalbergia sissoo saplings. We postulated that under drought conditions, sissoo plants would become more susceptible to dieback infestation. Five fungi, including Fusarium oxysporum, Curvularia lunata, Cladophialophora carrionii, Alternaria alternaria, and Fusarium solani, were isolated from an old shisham tree showing advanced symptoms of dieback infestation. These fungi were identified based on their ITS sequence homology and spore characteristics. Dieback development was more pronounced in plants experiencing water stress, regardless of their predisposition or whether it occurred simultaneously. Lesions were more noticeable and longer in predisposed saplings (3.8cm), followed by simultaneous (2.4cm) and much smaller lesions in seedlings that were inoculated and well-watered (0.24cm). Progressive browning of the upper leaves, which lowers sapling height in predisposed, simultaneous, and well-watered inoculated saplings to 8.09 inches, 5.93 inches, and 17.42 inches, are typical dieback symptoms. Water stress causes the loss of chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids, which reduces stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and photosynthetic activity, leading to poor development and mortality. Similarly, predisposed, simultaneous, and well-watered inoculated seedlings expressed increased activity of CAT (22.57, 18.148, and 9.714 U/mg) and POD (3.0, 4.848, 1.246 U/mg), to reduce the damage caused by elevated levels of H2O2 expression. It is concluded that water stress is the main cause of dieback in shisham saplings that subsequently disposed of infected seedlings to secondary agents such as fungi and insects in the advanced stages of the dieback with prolonged drought stress. The lack of dieback in native populations is attributed to the absence of several ecological stresses, including water stress, extended droughts, waterlogging, and salinity. This study emphasizes the need for additional research into the effects of abiotic factors linked with fungal diseases on the long-term production and management of D. sissoo in Pakistan.

Mycological detection of aflatoxin producing gene (Aflr) in Aspergillus Spp found in commercial raw groundnut and groundnut cake (Kuli kuli) in some selected market in Katsina state, Nigeria

The effect of aflatoxin intoxication from groundnut and groundnut products has lead to a large amount of deaths some of which are not yet accounted of. Kuli-kuli formally referred to as groundnut cake, is a byproduct of oil extraction from groundnut which have been further fried, sweetened or spiced. This research aimed at determining the mycological quality and molecular detection of Aflatoxin gene aflR in Aspergillus spp found in raw Groundnut and groundnut cake (Kuli-kuli). A total of 120 samples (60 groundnut samples and 60 groundnut cake samples) were randomly collected from four selected markets in Katsina state and subjected to mycological assessment based on colonial morphology on PDA and microscopy. Out of the total samples, 16 samples (8 raw groundnut samples and 8 groundnut samples) were selected for determination of total Aflatoxin concentration using ELISA technique. Isolates were also screened for aflR gene using polymerase chain reaction technique, and subsequently sequenced using Sanger method. Eleven (11) fungi isolate including Aspergillus niger, Scedosporium apiospermum, Cladophialophora bantiana, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus nidulans, Microsphaeropsis arundinis, Cladosporium, Cladophialophora carrionii, Rhizopus arrhizus, Aspergillus parasitus and Aspergillus fumigatus were identified to produce aflatoxin concentration ranging from 0.4–3.5 ppb from the samples of the raw groundnut and groundnut cake (Kuli-kuli). Therefore, the findings of this research has raised serious food safety concerns, especially in consumption of raw groundnut and groundnut cake (Kuli-kuli) sold in Katsina as such relevant regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC are advised to deploy drastic measure to curtail a possible aflatoxin intoxication outbreak

Galleria mellonella in vitro model for chromoblastomycosis shows large differences in virulence between isolates

BackgroundChromoblastomycosis is the World Health Organization (WHO)-recognized fungal implantation disease that eventually leads to severe mutilation. Cladophialophora carrionii (C. carrionii) is one of the agents. However, the pathogenesis of C. carrionii is not fully investigated yet.MethodsWe investigated the pathogenic potential of the fungus in a Galleria mellonella (G. mellonella) larvae infection model. Six strains of C. carrionii, and three of its environmental relative C. yegresii were tested. The G. mellonella model was also applied to determine antifungal efficacy of amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and terbinafine.ResultsAll strains were able to infect the larvae, but virulence potentials were strain-specific and showed no correlation with clinical background of the respective isolate. Survival of larvae also varied with infection dose, and with growth speed and melanization of the fungus. Posaconazole and voriconazole exhibited best activity against Cladophialophora, followed by itraconazole and terbinafine, while limited efficacy was seen for amphotericin B.ConclusionInfection behavior deviates significantly between strains. In vitro antifungal susceptibility of tested strains only partly explained the limited treatment efficacy in vivo.

Iron Starvation Induces Ferricrocin Production and the Reductive Iron Acquisition System in the Chromoblastomycosis Agent Cladophialophora carrionii.

Iron is a micronutrient required by almost all living organisms. Despite being essential, the availability of this metal is low in aerobic environments. Additionally, mammalian hosts evolved strategies to restrict iron from invading microorganisms. In this scenario, the survival of pathogenic fungi depends on high-affinity iron uptake mechanisms. Here, we show that the production of siderophores and the reductive iron acquisition system (RIA) are employed by Cladophialophora carrionii under iron restriction. This black fungus is one of the causative agents of chromoblastomycosis, a neglected subcutaneous tropical disease. Siderophore biosynthesis genes are arranged in clusters and, interestingly, two RIA systems are present in the genome. Orthologs of putative siderophore transporters were identified as well. Iron starvation regulates the expression of genes related to both siderophore production and RIA systems, as well as of two transcription factors that regulate iron homeostasis in fungi. A chrome azurol S assay demonstrated the secretion of hydroxamate-type siderophores, which were further identified via RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry as ferricrocin. An analysis of cell extracts also revealed ferricrocin as an intracellular siderophore. The presence of active high-affinity iron acquisition systems may surely contribute to fungal survival during infection.

Evaluation of the antifungal activity and mode of action of citral against Cladophialophora carrionii.

Introduction: Cladophialophora carrionii is one of the most frequent etiologic agents of human chromoblastomycosis, a chronic cutaneous disease. Such fungal infections are difficult to treat and underlines the need for new antifungal agents. Citral is a monoterpene with known pharmacological properties, including antimi-crobial activity. Aims: To investigate the antifungal activity of citral against strains of C. carrionii. Methodology: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were determined by broth microdilution techniques. Citral was tested to evaluate its effects on C. carrionii mycelia growth and germination of fungal conidia. Next, it was investigated the possible citral action on cell walls (sorbitol assay) and cell membranes (ergosterol binding assay). Results: The MIC50 and MFC50 of citral were respectively 128 μg/mL and 512 μg/mL. The study shows that citral displayed in vitro antifungal potential against strains of C. carrionii, where it was capable of inhibiting both its mycelial growth and germination of conidia for this fungus, whilst affecting the structure of fungal cell membranes. Citral’s mechanism of action involves binding to ergosterol. Further study is needed to completely describe its effects before clinical use as a therapeutic antifungal agent.

Chromoblastomycosis: A case series from Eastern China.

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic fungal infection of the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues caused by brown pigmented fungi. Fonsecaea monophora is one of the most common pathogens of CBM in China. Most formal cases have been reported from Southern China, however, the infection is not uncommon in Eastern China where very few case series are available. To describe the clinical aspects of CBM, we report a series of 11 cases between 2018 and 2021 at a single medical center in Eastern China. The patients were predominately male (n = 9) and the disease duration ranged from 3 months to 20 years. Plaque type lesions were the most common clinical manifestations. There were 7 cases of mild forms and 3 cases of severe forms. Among the 3 severe cases, one case gave up treatment due to economic poverty; one case did not respond to a 1-year systemic treatmen; one case was cured by combination therapy of 10 months. Other cases were cured by treatment with antifungal agents. All cases of direct mycological examination were positive. All isolates were identified by morphology and sequencing of the the ITS regions of ribosomal DNA, Ten were F. monophora and 1 was Cladophialophora carrionii. All cases had been evaluated at other clinics, where 8 cases were misdiagnosed as other diseases. As a neglected tropical disease (NTD), CBM is still a major challenge in the field of dermatology, especially in its severe clinical forms. As an effective and simple diagnostic method of CBM, direct microscopic examination should be further promoted in rural hospitals.

Clinicomycological Study of Superficial Mycoses: A Changing Trend of Increasing Non-dermatophyte Mold Infection

IntroductionSuperficial mycoses refer to the diseases of skin and its appendages caused by fungi. The geographical distribution of fungi may change from time to time; hence this study was planned. To find out the prevalence of different clinical types of dermatomycoses and dermatomycotic mold infections and their etiological agents. MethodsA total of 560 clinically diagnosed cases of superficial mycoses visiting tertiary care centre for a period of two years were included in the study. Specimens like skin scrapping, nail clipping, hair were collected and subjected to KOH mount and culture. Identification of species was done by macroscopic examination of culture, tease mount, slide culture and Germ tube test. Wood’s lamp examination was also performed. ResultsSuperficial mycoses were more common in the age group of 21-30 years (33.22%) and in males (71.96%). Tinea corporis 163/469 (34.75%) was the commonest clinical type in dermatophytosis followed by tinea cruris 145/469 (30.92%). 53.04% cases were positive by direct microscopy and 62.86% cases showed culture positive. Out of 352 culture positive cases, dermatophytes were isolated in 80.11% followed by yeasts (15.91%) and non-dermatophyte molds (NDM) (3.98%). The most common isolate among dermtophytosis was Trichophyton rubrum 156/282 (55.32%). An Aspergillus spp., Hortaea werneckii,Cladophialophora carrionii and Exophiala jeanselmei were some of NDM. ConclusionsIt was found that along with dermatophytes, non-dermatophytic fungi are also emerging as an important cause of superficial mycoses. A rare NDM like Cladophialophora carrionii and Exophiala jeanselmei can have possible causative role in the tinea corporis.

Chromoblastomycosis in Latin America and the Caribbean: Epidemiology over the past 50 years.

Chromoblastomycosis is a slowly progressing chronic disease caused by melanized fungi. We collected data from South America and the Caribbean covering 1969-2019, the 132 articles included 2081 patients, mean disease duration was 10.8 years. Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Cladophialophora carrionii predominated.

Mucormycosis: A black fungus – post covid complication, clinical and pathogenic approaches and isolation and characterization of black fungus with correlate its current perspectives of biomedical waste management

The clinically relevant black yeasts and their relatives, i.e., members of the Ascomycete order Chaetothyriales. In order to understand the pathology of these fungi it is essential to know their natural ecological niche. From a relatively low degree of molecular variability of the black yeast Exophiala dermatitidis, potential agent of brain infections in patients from East Asia, it is concluded that this species is an emerging pathogen, currently going through a process of active speciation. It is found to be an oligotrophic fungus in hot, moist environments, such as steam baths. Cladophialophora-Fonsecaea- and Ramichloridium-like strains, known in humans as agents of chromoblastomycosis, are frequently found on rotten plant material, but the fungal molecular diversity in the environment is much higher than that on the human patient, so that it is difficult to trace the etiological agents of the disease with precision, Human to human transmitted disease is the game of corona virus disease (COVID-19) transmission and it had been declared an emergency global pandemic that caused major disastrous in respiratory system to more than five million people and killing more than half a billion deaths across the globe. Besides lower acute respiratory syndrome, there is damage to alveolar with severe inflammatory exudation. COVID-19 patients often have lower immunosuppressive CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells and most patients in intensive care units (ICU) need mechanical ventilation, hence longer stay in hospitals. These patients have been discovered to develop fungal co-infections. COVID-19 patients develop what is known as mucormycosis a black fungal infection which is deadly leading to loss of sight and hearing and eventually death. This chapter will focus on mucormycosis, black fungus caused during post covid complication. This approach has been successful with Cladophialophora carrionii, of which cells resembling muriform cells, the tissue form of chromoblastomycosis, were found to occur in drying spines of cacti. Phagocytosis assays provide a method to distinguish between pathogens and non-pathogens, as the killing rates of strict saprobes proved to be consistently higher than of those species frequently known as agents of disease. therapeutic possibilities for patient chromoblastomycosis. Covid-19 waste is like any other infectious waste and the guidelines for its management are required to be followed in addition to existing practices under regulation. BMWM in context of COVID-19 is a public health concern and is both a legal and social responsibility.

A comparative study of extracellular enzymes from chromoblastomycosis agents reveals the potential association of phospholipase with the severity of the lesions

Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic, progressive subcutaneous mycosis that is endemic in tropical and subtropical countries. Cladophialophora carrionii and Fonsecaea pedrosoi are prevalent etiological agents. The potential role of the proteolytic activity of extracellular enzymes in these fungi and its relationship with the pathogenesis of the disease has not been proven. Some phenotypic traits have been associated with the virulence of other fungi; i.e., their different rate of protease, phospholipase, and esterase excretion, melanin, and thermotolerance. The aim of this study was the identification of extracellular enzymes that could be considered virulence markers of chromoblastomycosis agents. Therefore, we tested 29 C. carrionii and 11 F. pedrosoi clinical isolates to determine their hydrolytic and physiologic characteristics. All the tested isolates grew at a range of 30°–37 °C; except 2 strains of F. pedrosoi that grew slowly at 40 °C. We noticed that the hydrolytic capabilities of the tested isolates were positive for urea hydrolysis in almost all, while both strains were negative for DNase, hemolysin, and gelatin. C. carrionii and F. pedrosoi had phospholipase and esterase activity. These findings were similar for most isolates. All strains showed an association between phospholipase activity and moderate to severe lesions. However, only in F. pedrosoi isolates, the association remains significant. We conclude that the different enzymatic production reported here may be linked to the clinical manifestations of these pathologies. Notwithstanding, the influence of other virulence factors is not excluded.

Endemic Chromoblastomycosis Caused Predominantly by Fonsecaea nubica, Madagascar1.

Chromoblastomycosis is an implantation fungal infection. Twenty years ago, Madagascar was recognized as the leading focus of this disease. We recruited patients in Madagascar who had chronic subcutaneous lesions suggestive of dermatomycosis during March 2013–June 2017. Chromoblastomycosis was diagnosed in 50 (33.8%) of 148 patients. The highest prevalence was in northeastern (1.47 cases/100,000 persons) and southern (0.8 cases/100,000 persons) Madagascar. Patients with chromoblastomycosis were older (47.9 years) than those without (37.5 years) (p = 0.0005). Chromoblastomycosis was 3 times more likely to consist of leg lesions (p = 0.003). Molecular analysis identified Fonsecaea nubica in 23 cases and Cladophialophora carrionii in 7 cases. Of 27 patients who underwent follow-up testing, none were completely cured. We highlight the persistence of a high level of chromoblastomycosis endemicity, which was even greater at some locations than 20 years ago. We used molecular tools to identify the Fonsecaea sp. strains isolated from patients as F. nubica.

Chromoblastomycosis caused by Cladophialophora carrionii.

Chromoblastomycosis caused by Cladophialophora carrionii.

A screening of the MMV Pathogen Box® reveals new potential antifungal drugs against the etiologic agents of chromoblastomycosis.

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic subcutaneous mycosis caused by traumatic implantation of many species of black fungi. Due to the refractoriness of some cases and common recurrence of CBM, a more effective and less time-consuming treatment is mandatory. The aim of this study was to identify compounds with in vitro antifungal activity in the Pathogen Box® compound collection against different CBM agents. Synergism of these compounds with drugs currently used to treat CBM was also assessed. An initial screening of the drugs present in this collection at 1 μM was performed with a Fonsecaea pedrosoi clinical strain according to the EUCAST protocol. The compounds with activity against this fungus were also tested against other seven etiologic agents of CBM (Cladophialophora carrionii, Phialophora verrucosa, Exophiala jeanselmei, Exophiala dermatitidis, Fonsecaea monophora, Fonsecaea nubica, and Rhinocladiella similis) at concentrations ranging from 0.039 to 10 μM. The analysis of potential synergism of these compounds with itraconazole and terbinafine was performed by the checkerboard method. Eight compounds inhibited more than 60% of the F. pedrosoi growth: difenoconazole, bitertanol, iodoquinol, azoxystrobin, MMV688179, MMV021013, trifloxystrobin, and auranofin. Iodoquinol produced the lowest MIC values (1.25-2.5 μM) and MMV688179 showed MICs that were higher than all compounds tested (5 - >10 μM). When auranofin and itraconazole were tested in combination, a synergistic interaction (FICI = 0.37) was observed against the C. carrionii isolate. Toxicity analysis revealed that MMV021013 showed high selectivity indices (SI ≥ 10) against the fungi tested. In summary, auranofin, iodoquinol, and MMV021013 were identified as promising compounds to be tested in CBM models of infection.

Fungal diversity associated with crude oil-impacted soil undergoing in-situ bioremediation

In – situ Bioremediation of Petroleum polluted site by enhanced natural attenuation was investigated during a 60 days bioremediation using total culturable hydrocarbon utilizing fungi (HUF), fungal count and gas chromatographic analyses. Composite soil samples were collected from control, pre - remediation, during remediation and after remediation. The total culturable hydrocarbon utilizing fungal count in the polluted soil pre remediation, during remediation, after remediation and the control were 3.03 × 103 ± 0.02 Cfu/g, 1.30 × 104 ± 0.004 Cfu/g, 4.25 × 102 ± 0.04Cfu/g and 5.30 × 103 ± 0.07Cfu/g while the total fungal count were 1.51 × 104 ± 0.03Cfu/g, 1.77 × 105 ± 0.02 Cfu/g, 6.01 × 103 ± 0.06 Cfu/g and 8.15 × 104 ± 0.13Cfu/g, respectively. The physicochemical parameters such as pH, conductivity, total organic carbon, total nitrogen content, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), total hydrocarbon content, Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and total phosphorus were determined using standard methods. TPH and PAHs in the polluted soil before remediation, during remediation, after remediation and control were 16,618 mg/kg,665.0 mg/kg, 280.0 mg/kg, 277.3 mg/kg and 154.14 mg/kg, 150.0 mg/kg, 26.0 mg/kg, 7.30 mg/kg, respectively. The HUF isolated from the polluted soil before remediation, during remediation, after remediation and control were Candida spp., Candida tropicalis, Candida globrata, Geotrichum candidum, Sepedonium sp., Aspergillus fumigates; Aspergillus niger, Phoma sp., Cladosporium sp., Aspergillus nidulans, Cladophialophora carrionii, Aspergillus spp.; Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Bipolaris spp., Gliocladium sp., Aspergillus niger, Bipolaris sp., Paecilomyces variotii, Aspergillus terrens and Candida glabrata, Trichophyton tonsurans, Rhodotorula spp., Acremonium sp., Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus versicolor, Cladosporium sp., Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Trichophyton terrestre, Trichophyton sp., respectively. The overall data has shown a high level of pollution and that bioremediation enhanced proliferation of HUF with concomitant pollutants attenuation.

Galleria Mellonella as a Model Invertebrate Host for the Study of Muriform cells of Dematiaceous Fungi

To study the pathogenesis of chromoblastomycosis using the alternative model host Galleria mellonella. We analyzed the virulence of different dematiaceous fungal strains and the host immune responses (hemocytes density and morphological changes) to Fonsecaea monophora by the alternative infection model. Then detected the development of the pathogenic muriform cells within larvae under microscope. Increasing inocula resulted in greater larval mortality and Cladophialophora carrionii was the most virulent. Low inocula activated the humoral immune response significantly. Moreover, the conidia underwent morphological transition to muriform cells within larvae. We developed an invertebrate host model that can be used to evaluate the virulence of dematiaceous fungi, which may provide further insights into overcoming current limitations in studying chromoblastomycosis in vivo.

First case of chromoblastomycosis due to Phoma insulana

Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic infection, caused by pigmented fungi affecting skin and subcutaneous tissues characterized by verrucous nodules or plaques. Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Cladophialophora carrionii are the prevalent agents in the endemic areas. Phoma is an uncommon agent of human infection and involved mainly with phaeohyphomycosis cases. The case of a patient with a history of laceration in foot followed by verrucous aspect and scaly lesions, which had evolved for 27 years is presented. On physical examination disease was clinically compatible with chromoblastomycosis and the microscopic examination of scales showed fumagoid cells. On culture a dematiaceous fungus was grown. The agent was confirmed to be Phoma insulana based on its morphology and PCR-sequencing. This fungal agent has not been previously reported in association with this pathology.

Chromoblastomycosis: an etiological, epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and treatment update

Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic, granulomatous, suppurative mycosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by traumatic inoculation of dematiaceous fungi of the family Herpotrichiellaceae. The species Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Cladophialophora carrionii are prevalent in regions where the disease is endemic. Chromoblastomycosis lesions are polymorphous: verrucous, nodular, tumoral, plaque-like, and atrophic. It is an occupational disease that predominates in tropical and subtropical regions, but there have been several reports of cases in temperate regions. The disease mainly affects current or former farm workers, mostly males, and often leaving disabling sequelae. This mycosis is still a therapeutic challenge due to frequent recurrence of lesions. Patients with extensive lesions require a combination of pharmacological and physical therapies. The article provides an update of epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic features.

High-resolution melting analysis assay for identification of Fonsecaea species.

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic fungal disease. In China, the principle etiologic agent was a group of dematiaceous fungi, including Fonsecaea monophora, Fonsecaea nubica, and Cladophialophora carrionii. Although the Fonsecaea species have similar morphology, their pathogenicity is quite different. This study aims to establish a new solution for early identification of Fonsecaea species because of their distinctive potential infection risk. Five reference strains and 35 clinical isolates from patients with CBM, preserved in our laboratory, were used in this study. The universal primer ITS1 and ITS2 were chosen to amplify the highly conserved regions of rDNA. High-resolution melting (HRM) analysis was performed using the LIGHTCYCLER® 96 System. All the amplicons were verified by direct sequencing and the sequence were aligned with those in GenBank by BLAST analysis. We successfully differentiated the five strains according to their different Tm values and curve shapes. The 35 clinical isolates from patients were identified as 24 strains for F.monophora and 11 strains for F.nubica, which is consistent with the DNA sequencing results. It is the first time to use HRM analysis for identification of Fonsecaea species. Since the CBM etiologic agent in South China is mainly F.monophora and F.nubica, this strategy is sufficient to be applied in the clinical examination with high accuracy, speed, and throughput.

First case of chromoblastomycosis due to Phoma insulana

Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic infection, caused by pigmented fungi affecting skin and subcutaneous tissues characterized by verrucous nodules or plaques. Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Cladophialophora carrionii are the prevalent agents in the endemic areas. Phoma is an uncommon agent of human infection and involved mainly with phaeohyphomycosis cases. The case of a patient with a history of laceration in foot followed by verrucous aspect and scaly lesions, which had evolved for 27 years is presented. On physical examination disease was clinically compatible with chromoblastomycosis and the microscopic examination of scales showed fumagoid cells. On culture a dematiaceous fungus was grown. The agent was confirmed to be Phoma insulana based on its morphology and PCR-sequencing. This fungal agent has not been previously reported in association with this pathology.

Chromoblastomycosis and sporotrichosis in Madagascar : Epidemiology, molecular diagnostic and perspectives

Introduction Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) and sporotrichosis (SP) are endemic mycosis in Madagascar that occurred following injury and telluric contamination. CBM is mostly due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi or Cladophialophora carrionii and affects usually the subcutaneous tissue, whereas SP is caused by Sporothrix schenckii by invading the lymphatic system of the arms and legs. These fungal infections are considered neglected diseases because of poor resources allocated to their diagnosis, monitoring or prevention. Objectives The general objective was to assess the current prevalence of these mycosis in Madagascar. The specific objectives were to characterize the causative fungal species and their habitat in order to prevent contamination, and to set up a sustainable clinical and laboratory network to allow proper case management and to provide a molecular-based species identification. Methods The study comprised a prospective clinical study that started in March 2013. Patients were recruited during field investigations and consultations provided in a dermatology department. Pus, biopsy and squamous were sampled from the lesions. Informed consent from the patients and ethical approval from the Ministry of Health were obtained. Histopathological and mycological analysis (direct examination and culture on Sabouraud-Cycloheximide) were performed. We have developed a PCR-based strategy that was validated on reference strains provided by BCCM/IHEM (Belgian Coordinated Collections of Micro organism). First, two sets of universal primers (NL-1/NL4 and ITS5/ITS4) were used to confirm the fungal origin of the lesions. Then, specific primers (SSHF31/SSHR97, Fon-F/Fon-R, EdF/EdR) were used for fungal species identification. Results Ninety two patients were enrolled. Mean age was 38.7 years and men were predominant with 71.7 % of cases. Overall, 47.8 % were farmers, 30.4 % self-employed, 12.0 % students and 9.8 % unemployed. Clinically, 32.6 % of cases were suspected having CBM and presented with crusted, verrucous and tumoral lesions ; 34.8 % of cases were suspected having SP characterized mainly by ulcerative and nodular lesions of the lymphatic system of the lower limbs. Mycological analysis confirmed 33 cases of SP and 13 cases of CBM. The molecular diagnosis confirmed 34 Sporothrix sp, leading to a SP prevalence of 37 % and 1 Cladophialophora sp and 16 Fonsecaea sp leading to a CBM prevalence of 18.5 %. One mycetoma probably of bacterial origin was also diagnosed. CBM cases were predominant in the north-east, east and south part of the island, whereas SP cases were located mainly in the central highlands. Conclusion These results confirmed that CBM and SP persist at a high frequency in Madagascar. The availability of a reliable PCR tool in routine and the clinical expertise gained during this study will help the national authorities to set up a proper control and prevention program. An environmental survey is planned to describe the spread of the causative agents in the environment in an attempt to prevent the contamination.