Molecular Epidemiology of Agents of Human Chromoblastomycosis in Brazil with the Description of Two Novel Species.

• Published in: PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Renata R Gomes, Vania A Vicente, Conceição M P S de Azevedo, Claudio G Salgado, Moises B da Silva, Flávio Queiroz-Telles, Sirlei G Marques, Daniel W C L Santos, Tania S de Andrade, Elizabeth H Takagi, Katia S Cruz, Gheniffer Fornari, Rosane C Hahn, Maria L Scroferneker, Rachel B Caligine, Mauricio Ramirez-Castrillon, Daniella P de Araújo, Daiane Heidrich, Arnaldo L Colombo, G S de Hoog
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2016
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005102; https://doaj.org/article/118c2d069388453baddaf20b0bb7a5d8

The human mutilating disease chromoblastomycosis is caused by melanized members of the order Chaetothyriales. To assess population diversity among 123 clinical strains of agents of the disease in Brazil we applied sequencing of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region, and partial cell division cycle and β-tubulin genes. Strains studied were limited to three clusters divided over the single family Herpotrichiellaceae known to comprise agents of the disease. A Fonsecaea cluster contained the most important agents, among which F. pedrosoi was prevalent with 80% of the total set of strains, followed by 13% for F. monophora, 3% for F. nubica, and a single isolate of F. pugnacius. Additional agents, among which two novel species, were located among members of the genus Rhinocladiella and Cyphellophora, with frequencies of 3% and 1%, respectively.