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Cladosporium halotolerans: Exploring an Unheeded Human Pathogen
Harsimran Kaur1, Parakriti Gupta2, Haseen Ahmad1
1Mycology Division, Department of Medical Microbiology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
Mycopathologia
|November 4, 2023
Summary
Cladosporium halotolerans, a rare fungus, can cause human infections, primarily affecting skin and nails in immunocompetent individuals. Molecular methods are crucial for accurate identification, with triazoles showing the most effectiveness against this dematiaceous fungus.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cladosporium halotolerans is a saprobic fungus rarely causing human infections.
- Accurate identification is challenging due to non-specific phenotypic characteristics.
Approach:
- Phenotypic and molecular characterization (ITS, LSU, ACT, TUB) of clinical and environmental C. halotolerans isolates.
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphological variations.
- Antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) against eight agents.
- Systematic literature review of reported cases.
Key Points:
- Four isolates (3 clinical: skin, maxillary tissue, nail; 1 soil) identified as C. halotolerans.
- Clinical isolates were from immunocompetent patients; one had a history of trauma.
- All patients improved with antifungal therapy.
- Molecular methods confirmed species identification and differentiated isolates.
- SEM showed no significant morphological variations among isolates.
Conclusions:
- C. halotolerans is a rarely isolated dematiaceous fungus capable of causing human infections.
- Molecular techniques are essential for precise species identification.
- Triazoles demonstrate superior activity against C. halotolerans compared to polyenes and echinocandins.
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