Waterborne Exophiala species causing disease in cold-blooded animals

• Published in: Persoonia - Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Fungi
• Main Authors: de Hoog, G. S., Vicente, V. A., Najafzadeh, M. J., Harrak, M. J., Badali, H., Seyedmousavi, S.
• Other Authors: de Hoog, GS (reprint author), CBS KNAW Fungal Biodivers Ctr, Uppsalalaan 8, NL-3584 CT Utrecht, Netherlands., CBS KNAW Fungal Biodivers Ctr, NL-3584 CT Utrecht, Netherlands., Univ Amsterdam, Inst Biodivers & Ecosyst Dynam, Amsterdam, Netherlands., Peking Univ, Hlth Sci Ctr, Res Ctr Med Mycol, Beijing 100871, Peoples R China., Sun Yat Sen Univ, Sun Yat Sen Mem Hosp, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, Peoples R China., Univ Fed Parana, Dept Basic Pathol, BR-80060000 Curitiba, PR, Brazil., Mashhad Univ Med Sci, Sch Med, Dept Parasitol & Mycol, Mashhad, Iran., Mazandaran Univ Med Sci, Dept Med Mycol & Parasitol, Sch Med, Mol & Cell Biol Res Ctr, Sari, Iran., Islamic Azad Univ, Dept Med & Vet Mycol, Fac Specialized Vet Sci, Sci & Res Branch, Tehran, Iran., Islamic Azad Univ, Dept Med Mycol & Parasitol, Fac Med & Med Sci, Ardabil Branch, Ardebil, Iran., CBS KNAW Fungal Biodivers Ctr, Uppsalalaan 8, NL-3584 CT Utrecht, Netherlands.
• Format: Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: persoonia 2011
• Subjects: amphibian disease; black yeasts; Chaetothyriales; Exophiala; fish disease; lethargic crab disease; pathogenicity; waterborne fungi; TOAD BUFO-MARINUS; SALMO-SALAR L; CHRYSOSPORIUM ANAMORPH; NANNIZZIOPSIS-VRIESII; ATLANTIC SALMON; IMMUNE-SYSTEM; SP-NOV; PHYSIOLOGICAL-CHARACTERISTICS; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11897/394096; https://doi.org/10.3767/003158511X614258

The majority of mesophilic waterborne species of the black yeast genus Exophiala (Chaetothyriales) belong to a single clade judging from SSU rDNA data. Most taxa are also found to cause cutaneous or disseminated infections in cold-blooded, water animals, occasionally reaching epidemic proportions. Hosts are mainly fish, frogs, toads, turtles or crabs, all sharing smooth, moist or mucous skins and waterborne or amphibian lifestyles; occasionally superficial infections in humans are noted. Cold-blooded animals with strictly terrestrial life styles, such as reptiles and birds are missing. It is concluded that animals with moist skins, i.e. those being waterborne and those possessing sweat glands, are more susceptible to black yeast infection. Melanin and the ability to assimilate alkylbenzenes are purported general virulence factors. Thermotolerance influences the choice of host. Exophiala species in ocean water mostly have maximum growth temperatures below 30 degrees C, whereas those able to grow until 33(-36) degrees C are found in shallow waters and occasionally on humans. Tissue responses vary with the phylogenetic position of the host, the lower animals showing poor granulome formation. Species circumscriptions have been determined by multilocus analyses involving partial ITS, TEF1, BT2 and ACT1. Mycology SCI(E) 36 ARTICLE 46-72 27