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Two interesting fungi belonging to the genus Cordana have been isolated recently in Spain from plant debris. Both are proposed here as new species, described and illustrated. Cordana mercadiana sp. nov. produces 0-1-septate conidia, with a prominent basal scar. Cordana verruculosa sp. nov. differs from the other species of the genus by its unique combination of aseptate, verruculose and small conidia. Both species are compared morphologically with other species of Cordana and their identities supported by the analysis of rDNA sequences. LSU sequence analysis revealed the congeneric relationship of Cordana and Pseudobotrytis-, the members of both genera are in a well supported monophyletic lineage that appears to be related to the Coniochaetales but remains incertae sedis within the Sordariomycetes. To establish nomenclatural stability of the genus Cordana, an isolate of C. pauciseptata is designed here as epitype and the two species of Pseudobotrytis are transferred to Cordana. A dichotomous key is provided to identify the currently accepted species of Cordana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe an opportunistic, disseminated infection in a German shepherd dog associated with two fungal organisms not previously reported to cause disease. Lecythophora canina, a new species here described, was isolated from an osteolytic bone lesion. A fine needle aspirate of the lesion demonstrated septate hyphae. Plectospharella cucumerina (anamorph Plectosporium tabacinum) was isolated from a urine sample. Clinical manifestations were blindness, altered mentation, and osteomyelitis. Treatment with itraconazole and terbinafine for greater than one year resulted in stable clinical disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudallescheria boydii sensu lato is a complex of species involved in severe human infections. We have evaluated, using a murine model, the virulence of 2 strains of each of the most representative species of the complex, i.e., P. boydii sensu stricto, P. minutispora, Scedosporium apiospermum, S. aurantiacum and S. dehoogii. We used two different inocula, i.e., 5×104 conidia/ml (for immunosuppressed animals) and 1×106 conidia/ml (for immunocompetent animals), which were administered intravenously. Scedosporium aurantiacum and S. dehoogii were the most virulent species, causing the death of 80% and 70% of the immunocompetent mice, respectively. The remaining species only killed 0-20% of the animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sporothrix schenckii var. luriei is a very rare pathogen reported on four occasions from human infections, but only isolated from one case in Africa. Here, it is proposed as a species different from Sporothrix schenckii on the basis of phenotypic characteristics and a multilocus sequence analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foot infections are common and serious complications of diabetic patients. We report the case of a 68-year-old patient with a diabetic foot infection that developed into a gangrenous necrosis. Fusarium spp. was isolated on two successive occasions with no other associated microorganisms. Histopathology demonstrated invasion of the fungus into the tisssue. These findings suggested an infection rather than colonization. A detailed morphological study showed that the isolate was Fusarium acutatum , which was confirmed by rDNA sequencing. This fungus is found only in Asia and has not been previously reported as a human pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]