Search

Chlamydia pneumoniaehas recently been associated with the development of coronary heart diseases by sero-epidemiological studies and by direct detection of the organism in atherosclerotic tissues. The aim of our study was to employ a semi-nested PCR approach to investigate the presence of C. pneumoniaein both normal and atherosclerotic coronary arteries of humans obtained at autopsy. Moreover, we have evaluated the role of infection with C. pneumoniaein relation to the extent of coronary atherosclerosis. One hundred and eighty coronary artery specimens were collected at autopsy from 60 consecutive subjects (three arterial segments from each subject). Atherosclerosis in each arterial segment was graded histologically by the Stary classification. Thirty normal coronary arteries were also taken at autopsy as control. PCR results evidenced the presence of C. pneumoniaeDNA in atherosclerotic coronary arteries in 19 (31.7%) of 60 subjects examined, while none of the 30 subjects with non-atherosclerotic tissues was positive (p=0.001). Moreover, of the 180 atherosclerotic specimens examined, C. pneumoniaeDNA was detected in 3.4% (2/59) of mild atherosclerotic lesions, and in 14.0% (17/121) of advanced atherosclerotic lesions (p=0.05). Our results demonstrate that the presence of C. pneumoniaeDNA may be associated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

The presence of Malasseziaspp. yeasts was investigated in dermatological specimens of 224 dogs, 164 dermatologically diseased and 60 normal dogs. Subjects included in the study were of different breed, age, sex and habitat. Malasseziaspp. positive cultures were obtained in 142 (63.4%) specimens: 67.6% from dermatologically diseased subjects and 51.6% from healthy dogs. Malassezia pachydermatis, either as a pure culture or in association with lipid-dependent species, was identified in 138 (97%) specimens. Malassezia furfurwas identified in 69 (48.6%) specimens and was associated with other Malasseziaspecies in 68 dogs, as a pure culture in one subject: at the best of our knowledge, this species was identified before as the sole species from canine dermatitis. Malassezia sympodialiswas identified in 11 (7.7%) specimens, always in association with other species: it was never isolated from kennel dogs. Statistical analysis of data showed a very significant difference (P < 0.01) in the prevalence of isolation of Malasseziaspp. between animals with and without dermatological signs, and in the distribution of cultural burden between diseased and healthy dogs. A statistically significant difference (P<0.05) was also detected in the group of animals between 1- and 5-years of age. No significant difference was found between male and female dogs.

Microsporum canisis the dermatophyte most frequently recovered from canine and feline ringworm cases. The household environment can be contaminated both by symptomatic animals and through asymptomatic M caniscarriage, resulting in a potential human health risk. The load of M canisarthrospores was determined in households harbouring infected pets, in order to evaluate the infectivity of the animals versus the environment. The environments inhabited by 30 symptomatic animals (21 cats and 9 dogs) infected by M caniswere examined by sampling both surfaces and indoor air. The surfaces were examined by means of contact plates; the air sampling was performed with a Sas super-100 AIR SAMPLER (PBI, Italy). Environmental contamination was detected in all households with cats, while only four out of nine houses harbouring dogs were found positive. The frequence of isolation in each sampling, and the results in terms of colony forming units per plate in the different houses appeared to be quite homogeneous. Heavily infected environments harboured kittens only. Infected owners were observed in eight households, in all of which at least one infected cat was present. No history of human dermatophytosis in households harbouring dogs was found. On the basis of our results, infected cats appear to cause substantial environmental contamination, and provoke a substantial presence of viable airborne fungal elements. Dogs seem to be of lower importance in the spread of M canis: they contaminated surfaces, but they never contaminated the air. The results of this study confirm the potential leading role of the feline species in the environmental spread of M canis.

Between January, 1, 1986 and December, 31, 2000, dermatological specimens from 10.678 animals (7.650 cats and 3.028 dogs) were examined for dermatophytes. All the animals presented clinical signs of ringworm. Two thousand-four hundred fifty-six of the 10.678 (23%) examined animals scored positive for dermatophytes, 566 out of 3.028 canine (18.7%) and 1890 out of 7.650 feline specimens (24.7%). Microsporum canisconstituted 83% and 97% of the isolated dermatophytes respectively in dogs and cats, M. gypseumrepresented 13% and 2.6% and T. mentagrophytes5.5% and 0.2%. A sexual predisposition for mycotic infections was not observed. The animals with less than 1 year of age were more frequently infected. Canine toy breeds showed a significantly higher (P< 0.001) prevalence of infections by M. canis. Microsporum gypseumwas mostly recorded from sporting (hunting) breeds [such as T. mentagrophytes(6.7%)]. Microsporum caniswas isolated from long-haired cats with a ratio of 2:1 versus short-haired cats, while M. gypseumand T. mentagrophyteswere never recovered from Persian cats. The annual distribution of the infections in dogs showed a significantly higher incidence for M. gypseumin summer versus winter and spring, while the recovery rate of M. canisfrom cats was very significantly higher in fall and winter than in summer and spring. Trichophyton mentagrophytesdid not show a similar seasonal distribution.

Microsporum canisis the dermatophyte most frequently recovered from canine and feline ringworm cases. The household environment can be contaminated both by symptomatic animals and through asymptomatic M caniscarriage, resulting in a potential human health risk. The load of M canisarthrospores was determined in households harbouring infected pets, in order to evaluate the infectivity of the animals versus the environment. The environments inhabited by 30 symptomatic animals (21 cats and 9 dogs) infected by M caniswere examined by sampling both surfaces and indoor air. The surfaces were examined by means of contact plates; the air sampling was performed with a Sas super-100 AIR SAMPLER (PBI, Italy). Environmental contamination was detected in all households with cats, while only four out of nine houses harbouring dogs were found positive. The frequence of isolation in each sampling, and the results in terms of colony forming units per plate in the different houses appeared to be quite homogeneous. Heavily infected environments harboured kittens only. Infected owners were observed in eight households, in all of which at least one infected cat was present. No history of human dermatophytosis in households harbouring dogs was found. On the basis of our results, infected cats appear to cause substantial environmental contamination, and provoke a substantial presence of viable airborne fungal elements. Dogs seem to be of lower importance in the spread of M canis: they contaminated surfaces, but they never contaminated the air. The results of this study confirm the potential leading role of the feline species in the environmental spread of M canis.

A case of feline cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis due to Cladophyalophora bantianais described. The cat was presented with breathing difficulty and a swollen, ulcerated nodule on the dorsal nose and left nostril. Histological examination of the nodule revealed a cystic granulomatous dermatitis characterised by neutrophils, macrophages and giant cells. Pigmented, yeast-like fungus cells and hyphal elements were easily identified in haematoxylin-eosin stained tissue sections. Cladophyalophora bantianawas isolated from a tissue specimen. This organism, primarily known to cause cerebral infection in humans and cats, only rarely causes cutaneous infection. Despite anti-fungal chemotherapy two relapses occurred. The cat was feline immunodeficiency virus - and feline leukemia virus-negative and even if the owner was unaware of trauma, the hypothesis of wound contamination is the most likely.

A case of feline cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis due to Cladophyalophora bantianais described. The cat was presented with breathing difficulty and a swollen, ulcerated nodule on the dorsal nose and left nostril. Histological examination of the nodule revealed a cystic granulomatous dermatitis characterised by neutrophils, macrophages and giant cells. Pigmented, yeast-like fungus cells and hyphal elements were easily identified in haematoxylin-eosin stained tissue sections. Cladophyalophora bantianawas isolated from a tissue specimen. This organism, primarily known to cause cerebral infection in humans and cats, only rarely causes cutaneous infection. Despite anti-fungal chemotherapy two relapses occurred. The cat was feline immunodeficiency virus- and feline leukemia virus-negative and even if the owner was unaware of trauma, the hypothesis of wound contamination is the most likely.