Figure 2 - uploaded by Mahmoud S Taha
Content may be subject to copyright.
-Hematoxylin-and eosin-stained sections (magnification, 40x) showing A) neuroglial tissue containing ill-defined granulomata with multinucleated giant cells. Thin hyphae with regular septation and branching at a 45° angle are noted, B) Grocott's methenamine silver stain demonstrating thin hyphae and spores (magnification, 20x).
Source publication
Objective:
Invasive aspergillosis of the central nervous system in immunocompetent patients is a rare disease. We present in this study three cases that were treated in our centre and reviewed the results of similar studies from Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed all cases of invasive aspergillosis of the central nervous system (...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... resection of the intracranial lesions due to invasion of cavernous sinuses or vessels was achieved in most cases. Diagnosis of IA in all the series was based on pathology and cultures (Figure 2 & 3). The antifungal therapies prescribed are shown in Table 1. ...
Context 2
... patient remained clinically stable after surgery. Intravenous antifungal therapy (amphotericin B and voriconazole) was immediately started postoperatively together with a high dose of steroids (dexamethasone 4 mg every 6 h) following the confirmation of IA on pathology (Figure 2A and 2B). Tissue cultures also confirmed the diagnosis of aspergillosis (Figure 3). ...
Context 3
... resection of the intracranial lesions due to invasion of cavernous sinuses or vessels was achieved in most cases. Diagnosis of IA in all the series was based on pathology and cultures (Figure 2 & 3). The antifungal therapies prescribed are shown in Table 1. ...
Context 4
... patient remained clinically stable after surgery. Intravenous antifungal therapy (amphotericin B and voriconazole) was immediately started postoperatively together with a high dose of steroids (dexamethasone 4 mg every 6 h) following the confirmation of IA on pathology (Figure 2A and 2B). Tissue cultures also confirmed the diagnosis of aspergillosis (Figure 3). ...
Similar publications
Objective: To determine the types and frequencies of complications associated with acute meningoencephalitis (ME) among children admitted to hospitals in Aden, Yemen.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 60 children (1 month – 14 years of age) admitted to AL-Wahda Teaching Hospital in Aden with acute ME (viral or bac...
Citations
Introduction
Central nervous system (CNS) aspergillosis is an opportunistic infection with an increasing incidence and a high mortality rate. It is seen in immunocompromised patients as well as in immunocompetent patients. Here, we present disseminated aspergillosis in a child with nephrotic syndrome treated with long-term and aggressive systemic antifungal treatment and intraventricular (IVent) liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) as well as surgical excision and drainage due to difficulty in management.
Case report
A 10-year-old boy with nephrotic syndrome on steroid therapy was admitted with limping and weakness. The cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple intraparenchymal scattered abscesses. The largest one was excised and drained. Abscess culture revealed Aspergillus fumigatus and histopathological examination revealed septate hyphae compatible with Aspergillosis. Intravenous (IV) voriconazole was started, and IV L-AmB was added. The size of lesions and perilesional edema continued to increase, and then IVent L-AmB was added. With IVent and systemic antifungal treatment, regression of the lesions was observed. He was followed up with oral voriconazole and weekly IVent L-AmB. After 2 and a half months, he was re-operated because of increased lesion size, number and perilesional edema, and IV voriconazole and other salvage antifungal therapies were started. Since the lesions had decreased and remained stable, IV voriconazole was switched to oral therapy, and he was followed up as an outpatient. Immunodeficiency diseases were excluded by immunological and genetic tests.
Conclusion
Management of central nervous system aspergillosis can be challenging despite long-term and aggressive systemic and IVent antifungal treatment as well as surgical excision and drainage.
Background
The carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic chemicals such as aflatoxin are a worldwide health problem. Aspergillus spp., responsible for most cases of aflatoxin contamination, are common in the environment and spread easily to many different types of food. The objectives of this study were to conduct a survey of fungi associated with three soil invertebrates in Taif, Saudi Arabia, identify these isolates and explore mycotoxins formation.
Methods
In total, 114 fungal isolates were collected from various soil invertebrates (millipedes, Armadillidium vulgare and Porcellio laevis ) in Taif, Saudi Arabia, among them, 22 isolates were identified as Aspergillus spp. based on morphological and molecular characteristics followed by both Fusarium and Penicillium.
Results
The sequences of ITS 1 and ITS 4 were utilized. Using bootstrap analysis, phylogenetic tree was split into two distinct clusters. Five sub clusters were included inside the first major cluster, and their bootstrap value was 99%. While, there were two small clusters in the second major cluster. All the tested Aspergillus strains were able to have a single PCR fragment amplified using the primer AspTef. TEF-1 DNA sequence bootstrap analysis with 1,000 replicates revealed two distinct groups. Additionally, the Aspergillus isolates were grouped into two different clusters with about 65% genetic similarity using ISSR-PCR analysis. The standard polymerase chain reaction was used to effectively amplify the Aopks, afl-A and omt -A genes in aflatoxigenic Aspergillus strains. Four Aspergillus strains used in this investigation were shown to generate aflatoxin B1. While, three Aspergillus stains showed ochratoxin genes.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the results indicate significant differences in the fungal community between ecoregions and soil invertebrates. Moreover, mycotoxin detection and identification among Aspergillus isolates were elucidated. This study could shed light on the risk of mycotoxin contamination along the supply chain.
