Subcutaneous zygomycosis: report of 10 cases from two institutions in North India

Background Subcutaneous zygomycosis is an uncommon condition observed in tropics. Few series have been published, particularly from the northern regions of India. Objectives The aim of this study was to describe clinical, investigative and therapeutic details in subcutaneous zygomycosis observed in two teaching hospitals in Delhi. Patients and methods Ten patients seen over a period of 10 years (1999–2009) form the material for this report. Results There were four children and six adults. In four children, the presentation was a subcutaneous localized mass or gradually spreading plaque. In the others, it was observed over nasal region of face, spreading inward into mucosal sites and paranasal sinuses, and outward to the contiguous areas. Regional lymphadenopathy was present in two with facial lesions. Majority showed a granulomatous infiltrate with admixture of other cells, mainly eosinophils. Aseptate or poorly septate hyphae were observed in seven. In one patient in whom no hyphae were observed, there was dense perivascular inflammation. Organisms were cultured from four patients, Basidiobolus ranarum in two and Syncephalastrum racemosum in two. The main therapy used was a saturated solution of potassium iodide (KI). Four received only KI of which two attained cure after 3 months and 9 months respectively, and the other two showed signs of regression. In one boy subsidence was associated with reduced circumference of thigh. Ketoconazole or itraconazole was given with KI to hasten regression when response was slow or there were side‐effects to KI. Conclusion Awareness and early recognition will prevent disfigurement produced by advanced disease, misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgical intervention.     

Entomophthoromycosis due to Basidiobolus haptosporus

Summary. This paper reports a case of entomophthoromycosis in a 40-year-old man who presented with an ulcerative wound and serosanguineous discharge after surgical removal of a fibrocystic mass. The serosanguineous discharge yielded Basidiobolus haptosporus , perhaps the first culture-proven case from a surgical wound.
Zusammenfassung. Der Fallbericht betrifft eine Entomopththoromykose bei einem 40 Jahre alten Mann mit einer ulzerierten Wunde mit blutigserösem Sekret, die sich im Nachgang zur chirurgischen Entfernung einer fibrösen Zyste entwickelt hatte. Aus dem Sekret konnte Basidiobolus haptosporus isoliert werden, möglicherweise die erste Kultur aus einer chirurgischen Wunde.     

虫霉病

虫霉病是一种少见的深部真菌病,主要由蛙粪霉(固孢、林和裂孢蛙粪霉)、耳霉(冠状和异孢耳霉)两类致病菌引起,多发生在热带或亚热带,在临床上主要表现为皮肤和皮下组织肿块,质地硬而无触痛；胃肠道蛙粪霉病则有胃肠不适,还可有Crohn病症状及腹部肿块：全身无发热。组织真菌培养可见到宽、有或无隔的菌丝,孢子囊、孢子囊冠及接合孢子。组织病理呈肉芽肿改变,并可见有不规则分枝的菌丝,壁薄偶尔有隔。治疗应用碘化钾、磺胺及其他抗真菌药或联合用药均取得较好的疗效,但疗程比较长。     

Purification and characterization of protease enzymes of Basidiobolus and Conidiobolus species

Summary. The protease enzymes produced by one strain of each of Basidiobolus haptosporus, B. ranarum and Conidiobolus coronatus were purified by precipitation and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration chromatography. The enzymes prepared were characterized in terms of their specific activities and temperature and pH optima as well as their molecular weights. All three fungi produced one protease of 23 000 Da molecular weight. Conidiobolus coronatus additionally secreted a second protease of 32 000 Da molecular weight.
Zusammenfassung. Die von je einem Stamm von Basidiobolus haptosporas, B. ranarum und Conidiobolus coronatus produzitrten Proteasen wurden über Präzipitation und Sephadex G-100-Gelfiltrations-chromatographie gereinigt. Die dargestellten Enzyme wurden dann hinsichtlich ihrer spezifischen Aktivität, ihrer Temperatur- und pH-Optima sowie ihres Molekulargewichts charakterisiert. Alle drei Stämme produzierten eine Protease von 23 000 Da Molekulargewicht. Conidiobolus coronatus sezenierte zusätzlich eine zweite Protease von 32 000 Da Molekulargewicht.     

A review of zygomycosis due to Basidiobolus ranarum

Zygomycosis due to Basidiobolus ranarum (entomophthoromycosis basidiobolae, subcutaneous zygomycosis, subcutaneous phycomycosis, basidiobolomycosis) is a granulomatous infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues characterized by the formation of fluctuant firm and non-tender swellings, generally on the extremities, trunk and rarely other parts of the body. The causative agent is common in soil, decaying vegetable matter, and the gastrointestinal tracts of amphibians, reptiles, fish and bats. It is presumed that infection is acquired through exposure to B. ranarum following minor trauma to skin or insect bites. The disease usually occurs in children, less often in adolescents and rarely in adults. Males are much more frequently affected than females. Laboratory diagnosis is based on histopathology and culture. The typical histopathological feature is the presence of thin-walled, broad often aseptate hyphae or hyphal fragments with an eosinophilic sheath, frequently phagocytized within giant cells. Basidiobolus ranarum is known to produce several enzymes, e.g. lipase and protease that probably play roles in the pathogenesis of infections caused by this mould. An immunological test has been developed for specific diagnosis of the disease. Though potassium iodide (KI) has been the traditional drug employed in the treatment of infections by B. ranarum, several other drugs, viz amphotericin B, cotrimoxazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole and fluconazole have been successfully tried.     

Basidiobolomycosis: a rare case report

We report a rare case of basidiobolomycosis seen in an 11-year-old girl from North-Eastern part of India. She presented with complaints of bilateral nasal block and nasal discharge for seven-eight months. CT scan of sinuses revealed polypoidal mass in all the sinuses with extradural extension. The tissue biopsy examined histopathologically and microbiologically, revealed Basidiobolus ranarum.     

Statistical optimization of medium components for production of extracellular chitinase by Basidiobolus ranarum: a novel biocontrol agent against plant pathogenic fungi

The influence of concentration of medium components such as colloidal chitin, lactose, malt extract, yeast extract, and peptone on the chitinase production from Basidiobolous ranarum at the flask level were studied by using statistical tool Central Composite Design (CCD) and analysed by Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results revealed that colloidal chitin, malt extract and peptone had significant effect (P < 0.01) on the chitinase production at their individual levels. The polynomial equation of the model developed incorporates 3 linear, 3 quadratic and 5 interactive terms. Maximum chitinase production of 3.47 U ml^–1 was achieved with 1.5% colloidal chitin, 0.125% lactose, 0.025% malt extract and 0.075% peptone. After optimization, chitinase activity was increased by 7.71 fold. A second order polynomial equation was found to be useful for the development of efficient bioprocess for chitinase production. To screen the biotechnological potential of this enzyme, degradation of fungal mycelia by ammonium sulphate precipitate of the same was studied for several pathogenic fungi‐in vitro which showed promising results particularly against Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani. This study provides the first evidence showing the effectiveness of RSM for the development of a robust statistical model for the chitinase production by Basidiobolus and for its application in the biocontrol of phytopathogenic fungi. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Lipase activity of Basidiobolus and Conidiobolus species

Two isolates of Basidiobolus namely, B. haptosporus (ATCC 36600) and B. ranarum (MHB1), and one isolate of Conidiobolus coronatus (C1) were grown in modified Sierra medium for twelve days. Periodic measurements of their lipase activity showed significant activity of the enzyme from the fourth day with a steady increase up to the twelfth day of incubation. The lipases produced by the three isolates were stable over a wide range of pH (4-8) and temperature (30-60 degrees C). Maximum lipase activity for B. haptosporus and C. coronatus was at pH 5.0 and that for B. ranarum was at pH 6.0. The three fungi exhibited a peak of activity at the same temperature, i.e. 35 degrees C.