Fusarium Solani Infection Research Articles

Detection of invasive infection caused byFusarium solaniand non-Fusarium solanispecies using a duplex quantitative PCR-based assay in a murine model of fusariosis

A duplex Real Time PCR (RT-PCR) assay for detecting DNA of members of the genus Fusarium has been developed and validated by using two mouse models of invasive infection. The duplex RT-PCR technique employed two specific molecular beacon probes targeting a highly conserved region of the fungal rDNA gene. This technique showed a detection limit of 10 fg DNA per μl of sample and a specificity of 100%. The sensitivity in a total of 48 samples from a murine model of Fusarium solani infection was 93.9% for lung tissues and 86.7% for serum samples. In comparison, the sensitivity in a total of 45 samples of a F. oxysporum murine model infection was 87% for lung tissues and 42.8% for serum samples. This molecular technique could be a reliable method for the quantification and the evaluation of the disease in animal models and for the clinical diagnosis of fusariosis.

Olecranon bursa with Fusarium solani infection in an otherwise healthy patient

Olecranon bursa with Fusarium solani infection in an otherwise healthy patient

Effect of foliar applications of phosphite on post-harvest potato tubers

The utilization of phosphites (Phi) could be considered as another strategy to be included in integrated disease management programmes to reduce the intensive use of fungicides and production costs. The aim of the present work was to analyze whether the beneficial effects of phosphite treatment previously observed in potato plants grown under greenhouse conditions, were reflected after harvest of field grown potatoes, both in disease protection and in yield. In addition, biochemical compounds possibly involved in induced defence responses by Phi, like phytoalexins, pathogenesis related proteins and oxidative stress enzymes were measured. Foliar applications of KPhi to field grown crops resulted in post-harvest tubers with a reduced susceptibility to Phytophthora infestans, Fusarium solani and Erwinia carotovora infections, suggesting that this compound induced a systemic defence response. An increase in phytoalexin content in P. infestans inoculated tubers obtained from Phi-treated plants suggests their participation in the defence response. Chitinase content increased 72 h after wounding or inoculation with P. infestans in tubers from KPhi-treated plants compared to wounded or infected tubers from non-treated plants. Contrary to this, the isoforms of β-1,3-glucanases analyzed did not increase in the tubers of Phi-treated plants. The increment in peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities indicated that these enzymes could be part of the Phi defence mechanism. No negative effects were observed in potato yield at harvest, measured as total tuber weight and dry matter, after foliar KPhi treatment. This suggests that the energetic cost involved in the defence response activation would not be detrimental to plant growth.

Breakthrough Fusarium solani fungaemia in a patient with acute myeloid leukaemia receiving posaconazole prophylaxis after three days concomitant omeprazole

Introduction: Disseminated Fusarium infection carries a very high mortality therefore prevention remains the cornerstone in management of at risk patients. This approach incorporates the use of an appropriate broad spectrum antifungal agent with activity against both yeast and filamentous fungi. We report a case of breakthrough Fusarium solani infection in a 66-year-old neutropaenic female patient with acute myeloid leukaemia while on posaconazole prophylaxis. Case report: The patient was admitted with partial opacification of her maxillary sinuses and we believe that this served as the likely focus of infection. The fungus was isolated from blood 17 days post posaconazole prophylaxis and three days post omeprazole treatment though the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) to posaconazole using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommended method was very low. Three weeks treatment with liposomal amphotericin B proved to be successful, however, due to a rising creatinine the patient was subsequently changed to voriconazole with mycological and clinical cure. Conclusion: This case highlights the need for full histopathological and microbiological/ mycological investigations in patients with sinus opacification or mucosal thickening, alertness to Gram stain interpretation from blood cultures and above all, awareness that when proton pump inhibitors are used they might reduce triazole absorption.

A Case of Fusarium Solani Infection with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

A Case of Fusarium Solani Infection with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza and Trichoderma virdi as deterrents against soil-borne root rot disease of sugar beet

The aim of the present work was to study the effects of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) and Trichoderma virdi (T. virdi) fungi as deterrents against Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani) and Fusarium solani (F. solani) infections on the growth and quality of sugar beet. Two experiments were carried out in the greenhouse at the Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt, under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that mycorrhizal and T. virdi inoculation significantly restricted the spread of both soil-borne pathogens in the host root tissues. Disease incidence of sugar beet roots was reduced to 6.2 and 5.2% for mycorrhiza with Rhizoctonia and 5 and 4.5% with Fusarium in the 1st and 2nd seasons respectively. Trichoderma with Rhizoctonia inoculation reduced disease incidence to 6.0 and 5.8% and with Fusarium to 5 and 4.3% in the 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively, compared to pathogen (Rhizoctonia and/or Fusarium) alone. In the first and second seasons, respectively, incidence of R. solani infection, in combination with mycorrhiza treatment, was reduced to 6.2 and 5.2%, and to 5 and 4.5% when amended with F. solani. Dual inoculation with mycorrhizal or T. virdi and the pathogen resulted in increasing total fresh and dry weight, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (K) and potassium (P) contents of sugar beet leaves and roots compared to pathogen-inoculated plants. Furthermore, the same treatments increased yield and quality traits of sugar beet (sucrose, total soluble solids and purity percentage). The use of this microbial model system in biological suppression of R. solani and F. solani will sustain the productivity of sugarbeet.

Persisting onychomycosis caused by Fusarium solani in an immunocompetent patient

We present a patient with a Fusarium solani infection of both distal thumbnails. She suffered from Basedow's disease but had no signs of reduced immunity. The patient declined antimycotic treatment and the infection was still verifiable after 5 years. Our observation shows that a superficial F. solani infection may persist in immunocompetent patients without causing noteworthy discomfort. Because a superficial F. solani infection may give origin to a systemic infection it should always be treated if host defence is reduced.

Cultivar response against root-infecting fungi and efficacy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in controlling soybean root rot

A study was conducted in the greenhouse to examine the resistance of three soybean cultivars against root-infecting fungi, and to determine the role of five strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in protecting the roots from these fungal pathogens. In this study soybean cv RAWAL was found to be less susceptible against charcoal rot fungus Macrophomina phaseolina than cvs PARC and BRAGG. Most of the strains of P. aeruginosa used as seed dressing significantly reduced M. phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani infection on all three cvs PARC, BRAGG and RAWAL (p < 0.05). Most of the strains of P. aeruginosa were effective on cv PARC against Fusarium solani infection, while on cv BRAGG P. aeruginosa strain Pa3, and on cv RAWAL strain Pa5 were effective. Both strains Pa3 and Pa22 gave maximum plant height and fresh weight of shoots, respectively on cvs PARC and BRAGG than other strains. These characteristics make these P. aeruginosa strains good candidates for use as biocontrol agents against soil-borne plant pathogens.

Pseudallescheria boydii infection after liver retransplantation

Pseudallescheria boydii infection after liver retransplantation

Deep cutaneous infection by Fusarium solani in a healthy child: Successful treatment with local heat therapy

We describe a 6-year-old boy with a granulomatous lesion on the upper aspect of his left arm. Fusarium solani infection was confirmed by biopsy studies and cultures. The biopsy specimen showed an unusually extensive dermal invasion with fungal hyphae. This is an uncommon clinical presentation for deep cutaneous infection caused by F solani in a healthy child. Local heat therapy with a chemical pocket warmer led to dramatic healing of the lesion.

Comparison of antifungal treatments for murine fusariosis

Fusarium solani infections are notoriously difficult to treat. We compared the efficacy of polyenes and an echinocandin in treating murine fusariosis to identify the optimal therapeutic regimen. Neutropenic mice infected intravenously with F. solani were treated with amphotericin B (AmB), liposomal AmB (LAmB), amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC), caspofungin acetate or a combination of LAmB and caspofungin. Treatment was initiated prior to infection (prophylactic therapy), 24 h post-infection (delayed therapy) or 2 days before infection and continued for 1 day after (continuous therapy). Prophylaxis only with LAmB significantly reduced brain or kidney fungal burden compared with placebo. No prophylactic treatment improved survival. LAmB levels in the kidneys were higher than ABLC or AmB levels, which were often undetectable. In the delayed therapy model, neither polyenes nor caspofungin improved survival. In the continuous therapy model, LAmB or LAmB plus caspofungin did not improve survival even though they did decrease fungal burden. In contrast, continuous caspofungin at 1 but not 5 mg/kg/day improved survival, but did not decrease fungal burden. Kidney inflammation and tissue necrosis were markedly decreased in mice treated with caspofungin compared with other treatments. These studies demonstrate a dissociation between survival and tissue fungal burden during murine fusariosis. Although prophylactic LAmB may be useful at reducing tissue fungal burden, polyenes had limited survival benefit for active fusariosis. Caspofungin at 1 but not 5 mg/kg/day mediated surprising improvements in survival during active fusariosis, despite lack of reduction in fungal burden. Further studies are warranted.

Systemic fungemia and hepatic localizations ofFusarium solani in a liver transplanted patient: An emerging fungal agent

The incidence of invasive fungal infection is increasing especially in the field of transplantation, affecting as many as 50% of bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients with neutropenia and 5-20% of solid-organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Fusarium species are soil saprophytes and plant pathogens. They may cause superficial mycoses or important opportunistic infections in patients with bone marrow suppression and neutropenia, they have been rarely described in solid organ recipients, and up to now there have been no reports of such infection in isolated liver transplanted patients. We describe a case of disseminated Fusarium solani infection with hepatic localization in a liver transplanted patient that resolved with the administration of amphotericin B. Our observation confirms that Fusarium spp. are emerging pathogens that may most frequently affect not only BMT patients and patients with hematological malignancies, but also SOT patients. They may cause both localized and disseminated infection. In conclusion, Fusarium spp. etiology should be considered in the context of infectious diseases following liver transplantation.

Comparative efficacy of brown, green and red seaweeds in the control of root infecting fungi and okra

The effect of soil amendment by brown, green and red seaweeds was studied in controlling the root rot infecting fungi of okra seedlings in the greenhouse. The soil amendment with seaweeds Stokeyia indica, Padina pavonia (brown), Solieria robusta (red), at 1% w/w reduced Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani infection on okra roots. Codium iyengarii (green) at 0.5 % w/w was effective against F. solani, while at 1% w/w was found phytotoxic. S.robusta showed better control of F. solani infection when used with Pseudomonas aeruginosa than either used alone. S. robusta produced better plant height and fresh weight of shoot than P. aeruginosa. Results of the present study suggest that the use of brown seaweeds S. indica and P. pavonia alone and S. robusta alone or in combination with P. aeruginosa have great potential to control root-infecting fungi of okra with enhancement of plant growth. These seaweeds alone or in combination with P. aeruginosa may be utilized as biological control of root infecting fungi of okra.

Effect of voriconazole on a corneal abscess caused by fusarium

To describe a case of corneal abscess caused by Fusarium solani that did not respond to common antifungal agents. Case report. Twenty days after accidental contact with vegetation, a 56-year-old man presented with a corneal abscess. Corneal ulceration developed and a perforating keratoplasty was performed. After a microbiological examination, the diagnosis of F. solani infection was made. Systemic and topical amphotericin B and fluconazole were prescribed, with no results. A new abscess formed on the transplanted graft and a wound leak developed. We administered topical and systemic voriconazole. No side-effects were observed. The choroidal detachment and the surgical transplant recovered completely in 20 days. A vascular leukoma developed at the site of the transplanted corneal abscess. From a functional point of view, another corneal transplant will be necessary. Voriconazole was effective in treating a severe keratomycosis caused by F. solani that was resistant to other topical and systemic antifungal agents.

Hifalomicose em Mustelus schmitti (Springer) (Chondrichthyes, Triakidae)

Both fungai and algal infections have been reported in elasmobranchs. This study describes the first record of hyphalomycosis infection in Mustelus schmitii (Springer, 1940). The data was obtained through the examination of one animal in captivity and ninety five in their natural environment. Was also detected four cases of Fusarium solani infection. The impact of these diseases on the wild population is unknown.

Fusarium solani Fungal Infection of the Lateral Line Canal System in Captive Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks (Sphyma lewini) in Hawaii

Two of five scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) captured May 1987 in Hawaii (USA) developed granulomatous exudative mycotic dermatitis localized in the lateral line canal system. The lesion initially was noted in the cephalic canals, but over a period of months extended into the lateral canal. Fusarium solani and Vibrio spp. were isolated from the canal exudate of both sharks. Bacterial colonies were not observed in the canal walls or surrounding tissues. Fusarium solani infection resulted in a chronic physical and behavioral deterioration of the two sharks; one shark was euthanized in September 1988 and the other in July 1989. This is the first report of Fusarium solani infection in the lateral line canal system and the third account in hammerhead sharks.

Disseminated Fusarium solani infection

Disseminated fungal infections commonly occur in immunocompromised hosts; Candida spp. are the most common. Fusarium spp., soil saprophytes once considered pathogenic only in plants, have emerged as serious pathogens in neutropenic patients with malignancies. We describe two patients, one with acute myelogenous leukemia and the other with metastatic breast cancer, in whom disseminated Fusarium solani infection developed. Both patients had neutropenia and fever when generalized, tender, erythematous papules developed; most of the papules had black necrotic centers. Despite aggressive therapy with antifungal agents and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, both patients died within 1 month. Disseminated Fusarium infection can be a life-threatening condition in which skin lesions are frequently the initial sign. Early recognition and hematopoietic recovery offer the best chance for survival.

Observations on the pathogenesis of the imperfect fungus, Fusarium solani, in the California brown shrimp, Penaeus californiensis

The pathogenesis of Fusarium solani infections was studied using a highly susceptible species, Penaeus californiensis. In two experiments, F. solani infections were established in artificially wounded and infected juvenile and adults of P. californiensis, while similar control groups were wounded but not artificially infected. In the first experiment, the progress of F. solani infections in 15-g cultured juveniles of P. californiensis was followed by gross inspection and by light and electron microscopical study of the wound area. Developing F. solani infections were produced with a success rate of 100% within 14 days postinfection, and deaths due to disease of greater than 50% of the artificially infected group had occurred by 24 days postinfection. Infections were histologically characterized by (1) expansion of lesions into the tissue surrounding the point of entry, (2) destruction of invaded tissues by host granuloma formation and possibly by fungal enzymes and toxins, and (3) hemocyte encapsulation of hyphae with eventual melanization of the encapsulating hemocytes. In the second study, wild adult P. californiensis were artificially infected with F. solani, and changes in several of their hemolymph constituents [alkaline phosphatase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), glucose, total protein, hemocyte count, and hematopoietic tissue mitotic index] were determined as the disease developed. Significant differences occurred in these hemolymph parameters of shrimp with advanced F. solani infections compared to those of uninfected, unwounded control shrimp or those with early F. solani infections. Hemolymph from severely infected shrimp was hypoproteinemic, contained lower numbers of circulating hemocytes, and frequently failed to coagulate.

Fusarium solani infection during treatment for acute leukemia

Blunt abdomina l t r a u m a accounts for at least half the repor ted cases of pseudocyst of the pancreas in ch i ld ren? In some of the 30 per cent of repor ted cases in which the cause is not identified 4 unsuspected t r auma may actual ly be the cause. Abdomina l t r a u m a in school age chi ldren is usually the result of accidenta l i n ju ry -b i cyc l e handlebars, contact sports, or traffic accidents. The si tuation is somewhat different in the case of chi ldren under 3 years of age. I n this age group our experience leads us to believe that when a pseudocyst of the pancreas is found, and no acceptable explana t ion for its occurrence is for thcoming, the possibility of child abuse should be considered. We believe that t r auma t i c pseudocyst of the pancreas due to child abuse is more common than the l i te ra ture current ly indicates, and tha t some of the repor ted cases of pseudocyst of the pancreas in children, especially those repor ted in infants and toddlers, may in fact be the result of child abuse.