Eco-epidemiologic study of emerging fungi related to the work of babaçu coconut breakers in the State of Maranhão, Brazil
Introduction: There are more than 300,000 extractors using the babaçu coconut as a source of income in the States of Maranhão, Pará, Tocantins and Piauí, and this activity is associated with fungal infections. The objective of this study was to examine the occurrence of emergent fungi in the conjunc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822014000100074&lng=en&tlng=en |
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| author | Maria do Desterro Soares Brandão Nascimento Valéria Maria Sousa Leitão Marcos Antonio Custódio Neto da Silva Leonardo Bezerra Maciel Walbert Edson Muniz Filho Graça Maria de Castro Viana Geusa Felipa de Barros Bezerra |
| author_facet | Maria do Desterro Soares Brandão Nascimento Valéria Maria Sousa Leitão Marcos Antonio Custódio Neto da Silva Leonardo Bezerra Maciel Walbert Edson Muniz Filho Graça Maria de Castro Viana Geusa Felipa de Barros Bezerra |
| author_sort | Maria do Desterro Soares Brandão Nascimento |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: There are more than 300,000 extractors using the babaçu coconut as a source of income in the States of Maranhão, Pará, Tocantins and Piauí, and this activity is associated with fungal infections. The objective of this study was to examine the occurrence of emergent fungi in the conjunctiva, nails and surface and subcutaneous injuries of female coconut breakers in Esperantinópolis, Maranhão. Additionally, soil samples and palm structures were collected. Methods: The obtained samples were cultured in Petri dishes containing potato-dextrose-agar and chloramphenicol. The etiological agent was confirmed by a direct mycological exam and growth in culture. Results: In total, 150 domiciles were visited, and samples were collected from 80 patients. From the ground, the most frequently isolated fungus was Aspergillus niger (53. 8%). the most frequently detected fungus in babaçu coconut was Aspergillus niger (66.7%). Conjunctival fungal growth occurred in 76.3% of the women. The ocular fungal microbiota consisted of filamentous fungi (80.6%), and yeasts were present in 19.4% of cases. Onychomycosis was diagnosed in 44% (11/25) of the women. Conclusions: The identification of the genera Neosartorya, Rhizopus and Curvularia in onychomycoses shows that emergent filamentous fungi can be isolated. Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp. and Scedosporium sp. were the predominant genera found in the babaçu coconut. From ocular conjunctiva, Candida spp. were the most prevalent species isolated, and Fusarium sp. was present only in one woman. The nearly permanent exposure of coconut breakers to the external environment and to the soil is most likely the reason for the existence of a mycotic flora and fungal infections, varying according to the individual's practices and occupation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:00:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c86365710f144a5094f2540f53dbc563 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1678-9849 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:00:58Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical |
| spelling | doaj.art-c86365710f144a5094f2540f53dbc5632022-12-22T02:36:16ZengSociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical1678-98492014-01-01471747810.1590/0037-8682-0237-2013S0037-86822014000100074Eco-epidemiologic study of emerging fungi related to the work of babaçu coconut breakers in the State of Maranhão, BrazilMaria do Desterro Soares Brandão NascimentoValéria Maria Sousa LeitãoMarcos Antonio Custódio Neto da SilvaLeonardo Bezerra MacielWalbert Edson Muniz FilhoGraça Maria de Castro VianaGeusa Felipa de Barros BezerraIntroduction: There are more than 300,000 extractors using the babaçu coconut as a source of income in the States of Maranhão, Pará, Tocantins and Piauí, and this activity is associated with fungal infections. The objective of this study was to examine the occurrence of emergent fungi in the conjunctiva, nails and surface and subcutaneous injuries of female coconut breakers in Esperantinópolis, Maranhão. Additionally, soil samples and palm structures were collected. Methods: The obtained samples were cultured in Petri dishes containing potato-dextrose-agar and chloramphenicol. The etiological agent was confirmed by a direct mycological exam and growth in culture. Results: In total, 150 domiciles were visited, and samples were collected from 80 patients. From the ground, the most frequently isolated fungus was Aspergillus niger (53. 8%). the most frequently detected fungus in babaçu coconut was Aspergillus niger (66.7%). Conjunctival fungal growth occurred in 76.3% of the women. The ocular fungal microbiota consisted of filamentous fungi (80.6%), and yeasts were present in 19.4% of cases. Onychomycosis was diagnosed in 44% (11/25) of the women. Conclusions: The identification of the genera Neosartorya, Rhizopus and Curvularia in onychomycoses shows that emergent filamentous fungi can be isolated. Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp. and Scedosporium sp. were the predominant genera found in the babaçu coconut. From ocular conjunctiva, Candida spp. were the most prevalent species isolated, and Fusarium sp. was present only in one woman. The nearly permanent exposure of coconut breakers to the external environment and to the soil is most likely the reason for the existence of a mycotic flora and fungal infections, varying according to the individual's practices and occupation.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822014000100074&lng=en&tlng=enFungiCoconutAllied Health Occupations |
| spellingShingle | Maria do Desterro Soares Brandão Nascimento Valéria Maria Sousa Leitão Marcos Antonio Custódio Neto da Silva Leonardo Bezerra Maciel Walbert Edson Muniz Filho Graça Maria de Castro Viana Geusa Felipa de Barros Bezerra Eco-epidemiologic study of emerging fungi related to the work of babaçu coconut breakers in the State of Maranhão, Brazil Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Fungi Coconut Allied Health Occupations |
| title | Eco-epidemiologic study of emerging fungi related to the work of babaçu coconut breakers in the State of Maranhão, Brazil |
| title_full | Eco-epidemiologic study of emerging fungi related to the work of babaçu coconut breakers in the State of Maranhão, Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Eco-epidemiologic study of emerging fungi related to the work of babaçu coconut breakers in the State of Maranhão, Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eco-epidemiologic study of emerging fungi related to the work of babaçu coconut breakers in the State of Maranhão, Brazil |
| title_short | Eco-epidemiologic study of emerging fungi related to the work of babaçu coconut breakers in the State of Maranhão, Brazil |
| title_sort | eco epidemiologic study of emerging fungi related to the work of babacu coconut breakers in the state of maranhao brazil |
| topic | Fungi Coconut Allied Health Occupations |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822014000100074&lng=en&tlng=en |
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