Daniela Jaikel-Víquez1,2*, Stefany Lozada-Alvarado1,3 and Lorena Lorío-Uribe4
11Section of Medical Mycology, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology,
Faculty of Microbiology, University of Costa Rica, Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio
Brenes, San Pedro, Costa Rica
22Center for Research in Tropical Diseases (CIET), Faculty of Microbiology, University of
Costa Rica, Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio Brenes, San Pedro, Costa Rica
33Clinical Laboratory and Blood Bank, University of Costa Rica (LCBSUCR), University of
Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
44Center for Research in Cellular and Molecular Biology (CIBCM), University of Costa Rica,
Research City, San Pedro, Costa Rica
*Corresponding Author: Daniela Jaikel-Víquez, Section of Medical Mycology, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Microbiology, University of Costa Rica, Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio Brenes, San Pedro, Costa Rica.
Received: March 10, 2020; Published: April 14, 2020
Chromoblastomycosis is the second most frequently reported subcutaneous mycosis in Costa Rica. It is caused by dematiaceous fungi belonging to the family Herpotrichiellaceae (Order Chaetothyriales), especially by Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Cladophialophora carrionii. However, it is important to note that Fonsecaea monophora is able to disseminate and cause cerebral phaeohyphomycosis. Thus, five clinical isolates deposited in the Fungal Collection of the School of Microbiology of the University of Costa Rica were analyzed. The isolates were characterized macroscopically and microscopically after grown in potato dextrose agar. Genetic identification was performed via amplification and sequencing of the ITS (internal transcription space) region. The isolates were identified as F. pedrosoi (n = 3), F. monophora (n = 1) and Rhinocladiella aquaspersa (n = 1). Hence, we report for the first time that R. aquaspersa is an etiological agent of chromoblastomycosis in Costa Rica and confirm the presence of both F. pedrosoi and F. monophora in the country. Therefore, we recommend the usage of molecular techniques to identify these pathogens since there is a risk of fungal dissemination in our patients.
Keywords: Chromoblastomycosis; Chromomycosis; Fonsecaea monophora; Fonsecaea pedrosoi; Rhinocladiella aquaspersa; Subcutaneous Infections
Citation: Daniela Jaikel-Víquez., et al. “Molecular Identification of Etiological Agents of Chromoblastomycosis in Costa Rica". Acta Scientific Microbiology 3.5 (2020): 45-49.
Copyright: © 2020 Daniela Jaikel-Víquez., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.