therapeutic action: amphotericin B

Infection caused by a cryptic fungal species, Blastomyces gilchristii, in a tiger

A tiger at a veterinary hospital developed a serious fungal infection that affected its brain and lungs. Using advanced DNA sequencing technology, researchers identified the infection was caused by a previously unrecognized fungal species called Blastomyces gilchristii. This discovery was important because it showed that this dangerous fungus exists in areas where scientists previously thought it wasn’t found, and it highlights the importance of using modern genetic testing to identify unusual infections.

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Antifungal susceptibility testing of Microsporum canis isolated from the skin of dermatologically healthy cats

Researchers tested healthy cats in Chile and found that about 5% carried a fungus called Microsporum canis that can cause ringworm. This fungus was resistant to a common antifungal drug called fluconazole. Indoor cats were more likely to carry the fungus than outdoor cats. Because cats can spread this fungus to people, identifying carrier cats is important for preventing human infections.

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Candida krusei Empyema: A Lung Transplant Case and Systematic Review of the Literature

Candida krusei is a dangerous yeast that causes a serious lung infection called empyema, where pus collects around the lungs. This infection is particularly difficult to treat because the yeast is resistant to common antifungal drugs like fluconazole and can form protective biofilms. This systematic review identified only ten cases of this rare infection in the medical literature, showing how uncommon but serious it is, and found that patients need aggressive treatment with multiple antifungal medications combined with surgical drainage to survive.

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Infection caused by a cryptic fungal species, Blastomyces gilchristii, in a tiger

A tiger in Tennessee became ill with a serious fungal infection caused by a lesser-known fungus called Blastomyces gilchristii. While blastomycosis is typically caused by a different fungus species, this case represents the first detection of this particular cryptic fungal species in the southeastern United States. Scientists used advanced genetic sequencing to identify the fungus when standard laboratory methods failed. This discovery suggests that this dangerous fungus is spreading to areas where it was not previously thought to exist.

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Pathogenic characterization of Phialophora submersa, a new black yeast isolated from freshwater sediments in Spain

Scientists discovered a new black yeast fungus called Phialophora submersa in Spanish river sediments and tested whether it could infect humans. Using laboratory macrophage (immune cell) models, they found that this environmental fungus exhibits pathogenic potential similar to known disease-causing Phialophora species, though at intermediate levels. The fungus showed resistance to some antifungal drugs and displayed strain-dependent ability to survive various stress conditions. This research suggests that environmental fungal species may pose unexpected health risks despite not being able to grow at normal human body temperature.

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Candidemia due to Candida lambica in a neutropenic oncology patient: A rare case report

A 56-year-old cancer patient developed a rare blood infection caused by an unusual yeast called Candida lambica while receiving chemotherapy. Despite taking antifungal medication for prevention, the patient developed a serious fever and low white blood cell count. Doctors identified the infection through genetic testing and treated it with a different antifungal drug called voriconazole, which successfully cleared the infection.

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Deep cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Cladophialophora boppii: A case report

A 69-year-old woman with breast cancer developed a skin infection caused by a rare fungus called Cladophialophora boppii while taking dexamethasone for cancer treatment. Doctors diagnosed the infection through skin biopsy and fungal testing, then removed the infected area surgically. After three weeks of antifungal medication (itraconazole), the infection cleared completely and did not return during four months of follow-up. This case suggests that surgery combined with short-term antifungal treatment may be sufficient for this type of infection.

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Invasive Candidiasis in Contexts of Armed Conflict, High Violence, and Forced Displacement in Latin America and the Caribbean (2005–2025)

This comprehensive review examines candida fungal infections in conflict-affected areas of Latin America and the Caribbean, where wars, violence, and displacement create dangerous conditions that make infections more likely and harder to treat. In these regions, mortality from candida bloodstream infections reaches 65% or higher among displaced populations, compared to about 45-60% in regular hospitals. The main problems are lack of proper diagnostic equipment, limited access to effective antifungal medications, malnutrition, overcrowding in shelters, and the emergence of drug-resistant fungal strains.

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