scholarly journals Endemic and Other Dimorphic Mycoses in The Americas

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Shawn R. Lockhart ◽  
Mitsuru Toda ◽  
Kaitlin Benedict ◽  
Diego H. Caceres ◽  
Anastasia P. Litvintseva
Keyword(s):  
Histoplasma Capsulatum ◽  
Opportunistic Infections ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
Dimorphic Fungi ◽  
Caribbean Islands ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Taxonomic Changes ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Endemic Fungi ◽  
Medical Burden

Endemic fungi are thermally dimorphic fungi that have a limited geographic range and can cause both primary disease and opportunistic infections. The Americas are home to more genera of endemic fungi than anywhere else on earth. These include Coccidioides, Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Paracoccidioides, and Sporothrix. Endemic fungi are found across the Americas and the Caribbean, from Blastomyces gilchristi, which extends into the northeast corners of North America, to Histoplasma capsulatum, which occurs all the way down in the southern regions of South America and into the Caribbean Islands. Symptoms of endemic fungal infection, when present, mimic those of many other diseases and are often diagnosed only after initial treatment for a bacterial or viral disease has failed. Endemic fungi place a significant medical burden on the populations they affect, especially in immunocompromised individuals and in resource-limited settings. This review summarizes the ecology, geographical range, epidemiology, and disease forms of the endemic fungi found in the Americas. An emphasis is placed on new and proposed taxonomic changes, including the assignment of new species names in Histoplasma, Blastomyces, and Paracoccidioides.

Endemic Fungi Presenting as Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (04) ◽  
pp. 522-537
Author(s):  
Marwan M. Azar ◽  
Joshua Malo ◽  
Chadi A. Hage
Keyword(s):  
Histoplasma Capsulatum ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Community Acquired Pneumonia ◽  
Land Utilization ◽  
Coccidioides Posadasii ◽  
Dimorphic Fungi ◽  
Pulmonary Histoplasmosis ◽  
Diagnostic Modalities ◽  
Endemic Fungi

AbstractIn endemic areas, dimorphic fungal infections due to Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Coccidioides posadasii/immitis account for up to 30% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia. Because respiratory manifestations are often indistinguishable from common bacterial causes of pneumonia, the diagnosis of pulmonary histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis is often delayed and associated with antibiotics overuse. In addition to being highly endemic to certain regions of North America, dimorphic fungi have global significance due to established areas of endemicity in all six inhabited continents, an increasingly interconnected world of travelers and transported goods, and a changing epidemiology as a result of global heating and anthropomorphic land utilization. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, and treatment strategies for histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis.

scholarly journals Histoplasmosis and multicentric lymphoma in a Nubian goat

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 770-773
Author(s):  
Samantha N. Schlemmer ◽  
Alycia P. Fratzke ◽  
Philippa Gibbons ◽  
Brian F. Porter ◽  
Joanne Mansell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Histoplasma Capsulatum ◽  
Opportunistic Infections ◽  
Serum Antibody ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Dimorphic Fungi ◽  
Formalin Fixed Paraffin ◽  
Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded ◽  
Immunocompromised State ◽  
Panfungal Pcr ◽  
Multicentric Lymphoma

Following treatment for pneumonia, a 1-y-old female Nubian goat was presented because of a persistent fever for 3 mo and peripheral lymphadenopathy for 1 mo. Cytology and histology of the superficial cervical and prefemoral lymph nodes demonstrated a moderate-to-marked “left-shifted” lymphoid population, suggestive of lymphoma, and extremely rare extracellular, 2–4 µm, oval, basophilic yeast, consistent with Histoplasma capsulatum. On immunohistochemistry, >95% of the lymphocytes demonstrated positive cytoplasmic and membranous immunoreactivity for CD3. Histoplasma spp. urine antigen and serum antibody testing were positive and negative, respectively. Panfungal PCR and sequencing of DNA extracted from scrolls of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue yielded matches to H. capsulatum with 99–100% identity. Given the poor prognosis and persistent pyrexia, the animal was euthanized. Postmortem examination confirmed concurrent multicentric, intermediate-size, T-cell, lymphoblastic lymphoma and histoplasmosis; lesions consistent with intestinal coccidiosis and suspected pulmonary Rhodococcus equi were also noted. Although dimorphic fungi have been described previously in goats, lesions of Histoplasma spp. had not been documented in this species, to our knowledge. Given the low disease burden, it is suspected that the lymphoma was primary, leading to an immunocompromised state and development of secondary, opportunistic infections.

Geology and hydrogeology of the Caribbean islands aquifer system of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Renken ◽  
W. C. Ward ◽  
I.P. Gill ◽  
Fernando Gómez-Gómez ◽  
Jesús Rodríguez-Martínez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Virgin Islands ◽  
Aquifer System ◽  
Caribbean Islands ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
The U.S

Leishmania spp. and leishmaniasis on the Caribbean islands

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaoqun Yao
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Dominican Republic ◽  
Trinidad And Tobago ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Sand Fly ◽  
Caribbean Islands ◽  
Leishmania Spp ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Sand Fly Vectors

Abstract The kinetoplastid protozoan Leishmania spp. cause leishmaniasis, which clinically exhibit mainly as a cutaneous, mucocutanous or visceral form depending upon the parasite species in humans. The disease is widespread geographically, leading to 20 000 annual deaths. Here, leishmaniases in both humans and animals, reservoirs and sand fly vectors on the Caribbean islands are reviewed. Autochthonous human infections by Leishmania spp. were found in the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe and Martinique as well as Trinidad and Tobago; canine infections were found in St. Kitts and Grenada; and equine infections were found in Puerto Rico. Imported human cases have been reported in Cuba. The parasites included Leishmania amazonensis, Le. martiniquensis and Le. waltoni. Possible sand fly vectors included Lutzomyia christophei, Lu. atroclavatus, Lu. cayennensis and Lu. flaviscutellata as well as Phlebotomus guadeloupensis. Reservoirs included rats, rice rats and mouse opossum. An updated study is warranted for the control and elimination of leishmaniasis in the region because some of the data are four decades old.

scholarly journals Unraveling the Gut Microbiome of the Invasive Small Indian Mongoose (Urva auropunctata) in the Caribbean

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 465
Author(s):  
Anne A. M. J. Becker ◽  
KC Hill ◽  
Patrick Butaye
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Caribbean Islands ◽  
Microbial Profile ◽  
Vegetation Zones ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Metabolic Properties ◽  
Small Indian Mongoose

Small Indian mongooses (Urva auropunctata) are among the most pervasive predators to disrupt the native ecology on Caribbean islands and are strongly entrenched in their areas of introduction. Few studies, however, have considered the microbial ecology of such biological invasions. In this study, we investigated the gut microbiota of invasive small Indian mongooses in terms of taxonomic diversity and functional potential. To this end, we collected fecal samples from 60 free-roaming mongooses trapped in different vegetation zones on the island Saint Kitts. The core gut microbiome, assessed by 16S rRNA amplicon gene sequencing on the Ion S5TM XL platform, reflects a carnivore-like signature with a dominant abundance of Firmicutes (54.96%), followed by Proteobacteria (13.98%) and Fusobacteria (12.39%), and a relatively minor contribution of Actinobacteria (10.4%) and Bacteroidetes (6.40%). Mongooses trapped at coastal sites exhibited a higher relative abundance of Fusobacterium spp. whereas those trapped in scrubland areas were enriched in Bacteroidetes, but there was no site-specific difference in predicted metabolic properties. Between males and females, beta-diversity was not significantly different and no sex-specific strategies for energy production were observed. However, the relative abundance of Gammaproteobacteria, and more specifically, Enterobacteriaceae, was significantly higher in males. This first description of the microbial profile of small Indian mongooses provides new insights into their bioecology and can serve as a springboard to further elucidating this invasive predator’s impact throughout the Caribbean.

scholarly journals Chikungunya Fever in Japan Imported from the Caribbean Islands

2016 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuo Imai ◽  
Eri Nakayama ◽  
Takuya Maeda ◽  
Kei Mikita ◽  
Yukiko Kobayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chikungunya Fever ◽  
Caribbean Islands ◽  
The Caribbean

scholarly journals Maternal Infection and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes among Pregnant Travellers: Results of the International Zika Virus in Pregnancy Registry

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 341
Author(s):  
Manon Vouga ◽  
Léo Pomar ◽  
Antoni Soriano-Arandes ◽  
Carlota Rodó ◽  
Anna Goncé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Minimal Risk ◽  
Maternal Infection ◽  
Caribbean Islands ◽  
Multicentre Cohort Study ◽  
Epidemic Period ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy ◽  
Multicentre Cohort

In this multicentre cohort study, we evaluated the risks of maternal ZIKV infections and adverse pregnancy outcomes among exposed travellers compared to women living in areas with ZIKV circulation (residents). The risk of maternal infection was lower among travellers compared to residents: 25.0% (n = 36/144) versus 42.9% (n = 309/721); aRR 0.6; 95% CI 0.5–0.8. Risk factors associated with maternal infection among travellers were travelling during the epidemic period (i.e., June 2015 to December 2016) (aOR 29.4; 95% CI 3.7–228.1), travelling to the Caribbean Islands (aOR 3.2; 95% CI 1.2–8.7) and stay duration >2 weeks (aOR 8.7; 95% CI 1.1–71.5). Adverse pregnancy outcomes were observed in 8.3% (n = 3/36) of infected travellers and 12.7% (n = 39/309) of infected residents. Overall, the risk of maternal infections is lower among travellers compared to residents and related to the presence of ongoing outbreaks and stay duration, with stays <2 weeks associated with minimal risk in the absence of ongoing outbreaks.

Retrospective Outcomes Review of Laparoscopy Training at a Small Private Hospital in the Caribbean Islands

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. S152
Author(s):  
S.J. Martin ◽  
O. Valle ◽  
K.S. Smith ◽  
J. George ◽  
E.T. Bennet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Private Hospital ◽  
Laparoscopy Training ◽  
Caribbean Islands ◽  
The Caribbean

Attitudes toward Love in the Caribbean

1987 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 715-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Payne ◽  
Michel Vandewiele
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
West Indians ◽  
Caribbean Islands ◽  
Conjugal Love ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Caribbean

The Munro-Adams Love Attitude Scale was administered to 369 subjects aged 15 to 35 yr. in the Caribbean islands of Barbados and St. Lucia. Unlike North American and African samples surveyed with this instrument, West Indians endorsed Romantic Idealism more strongly than Conjugal Love. Data are interpreted in terms of Caribbean household structures and patterns of males' and females' relationships.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document