| Autor: |
Duarte-Silva, Luciana, Vilela, Raquel, Rodrigues, Isabela A., Magalhães, Vanessa C. R., Caliari, Marcelo V., Mendoza, Leonel, Costa, Adriana Oliveira |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases; 11/4/2024, Vol. 18 Issue 11, p1-10, 10p |
| Abstrakt: |
The genus Prototheca (alga) comprises a unique group of achlorophyllic saprotrophic and mammalian pathogen species. Despite its rare occurrence in humans and animals, protothecosis is considered an emerging clinical entity with relevance in immunocompromised patients. In this study, the characterization of spherical structures with endospores recovered from a blood culture in an HIV patient was investigated using phenotypic and molecular methodologies. On 2% Sabouraud dextrose agar, the isolate displayed morphological and biochemical characteristics found on isolates identified as Prototheca wickerhamii. To validate these analyses, molecular phylogeny of the internal transcript space (ITS) partial gene confirmed the identity of the isolate as P. wickerhamii. This is the first case of systemic human protothecosis in Brazil. The present case of human Prototheca and those reported in the medical literature highlight the need for novel methodologies to identify pathogenic algae in the clinical laboratory, improving in this way the diagnosis and treatment of this group of neglected pathogens. Author summary: Species of Prototheca are achlorophyllous algae widespread in aquatic and wet environments, exhibiting the surprising ability to act as a pathogen of mammals, including humans. With no tendency to self-resolve and the potential for fatal outcomes in immunocompromised patients, protothecosis has emerged as a concerning infection in the last decades. In this study, we identified a Prototheca isolate from a fatal case of systemic protothecosis, using traditional assays, and phylogenetic analysis. Traditional assays identified the pathogen as Prototheca wickerhamii, findings later confirmed by molecular methodologies. Because of its unique classification, clinical diagnosis and laboratory identification are challenging. For instance, the macro morphology of the colonies on culture mimics those in Candida species, a fact contributing to delay therapy. Therefore, the accurate identification and characterization of clinical isolates using molecular methodologies may have a positive impact on the diagnosis and treatment of this unusual infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
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