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Saprolegniasis is one of the most dangerous fungal diseases of fish, causing significant mortality in fish hatcheries and young ones. The present study aimed to isolate and characterize the causative fungus from fingerlings of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus cultured intensively in freshwater cages in Indian reservoirs and to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations of different antifungal compounds against the fungal hyphae and zoospores. The fungal isolates grown on potato dextrose agar showed an abundance of gemmae, elongated mycelia, non-septate hyphae, primary zoospores, mature zoosporangia with numerous zoospores, cysts with bundles of long hairs and were further identified as Saprolegnia parasitica following PCR amplification and sequencing of internal transcribed spacer region. S. parasitica showed temperature-sensitive optimum growth in a narrow window of 12–24 ℃, which might drive its experimental pathogenesis as well as natural infections in the winter months. In vitro sensitivity testing established negligible inhibitory activity of fluconazole, boric acid, sodium thiosulfate, and potassium permanganate while clotrimazole arrested the spore and hyphal growths at 2 mgL -1 concentration suggesting potential of the imidazole antifungal in treating S. parasitica infection in fish. The present study will serve as the baseline information for developing therapeutic and management strategies for controlling saprolegniasis in the economically significant iridescent catfish.

Objective: To identify the distribution pattern and antifungal sensitivity of candida species in vulvovaginal candidiasis to improve patient safety and provide better health care. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in association with Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Apr 2018 to Sep 2018.Methodology: The Candida strains were isolated from high vaginal swabs and were cultured on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar and then stored in glycerol broth. To confirm growth, Gram staining was performed and the documentation was done using growth pattern on CHROM agar and biochemical testing with API 20 C AUX. The antifungal sensitivity pattern was checked by disc diffusion method on Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar with drug disks of Nystatin 100 units/disc, Miconazole 10μg, Fluconazole 25μg (Oxoid), Amphotericin 20μg and Clotrimazole 10μg.Results: Among 100 collected isolates of candida species 68% were C. albicans and 32% were non-albicans, comprising C. glabrata 16%, C. tropicalis 8%, C. famata 4 (4%), C. guilliermondii 2 (2%), S. cerevisiae 1 (1%) and C. lusitaniae 1 (1%). Moreover, C.albicans, C. glabrata (16%), and C. tropicalis (8%) were found to be susceptible to antifungals used in this study, while C. famata(4%), C. guilliermondii 2 (2%), and S. cerevisiae (1%) revealed maximum resistance against these antifungals. Conclusion: This study display that C. albicans is greater than non-albicans candida in patients with VVC and non-albicans candida species are found to be almost completely resistant against commonly prescribed anti-fungal drugs.

The genus Malassezia belongs to Basidiomycota and includes 16 species, from which M. pachydermatis is the most common in dogs. M. pachydermatis is a member of the normal mycobiota of the skin and mucosal sites of dogs. Under certain conditions, these yeasts can be opportunistic pathogens and involved skin and ear canal infections of these animals. Topical and oral antifungal agents are used for the therapy of Malassezia dermatitis and otitis. With the expanding use of antifungal agents, resistant strains of Malassezia are increasingly detected. In this study, the susceptibility of 40 M. pachydermatis isolates to fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, clotrimazole and nystatin were evaluated in vitro based on the modified standard disk diffusion method M44-2A.

Since the nosocomial fungal infections increasingly emerge, we extensively investigated the fungal species stratification and antifungal sensitivity profiles, clinical characteristics and associated risk factors of immunosuppressed patients with clinically diagnosed invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in a tertiary hospital of Anhui province. In total, 112 subjects with immunosuppressive state were enrolled from a comprehensive tertiary hospital in Central China between July 2019 and December 2021. Eight-one fungal isolates were clinically recovered by fungus-culturing approaches. The identifications were conducted through a mass spectrometry detecting platform. The susceptibilities to antifungals were tested using the broth micro-dilution method, and the possible antifungal azole-resistance mechanism in specific species was availably explored by sequencing. Patient medical profiles were accessed via the digitized retrieval system of hospital, from which clinical outcomes and multiple risk factors for immunosuppressed patients with clinically diagnosed IFIs were explicitly documented for evaluation. species predominated in clinically diagnosed IFIs of immunosuppressed patients (accounting for 88.88%), followed by and species (6.17% and 4.94%, respectively). The source types of specimen were primarily comprised of urine (41.98%), respiratory samples (33.33%) and peripheral blood (9.88%). Frequently isolated and species exhibited a high level of in vitro sensitivity for amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine, whereas a substantial portion of species including complex and , and species showed lowered sensitivity patterns toward itraconazole, fluconazole and voriconazole at different levels. Specifically, gene mutations of were identified in azole-resistant . Distinct risk factors were analyzed to be highly associated with the clinically diagnosed IFI incidence, mainly including hospitalization duration, surgical procedures, immunosuppressive treatments, underlying diseases and other conditions. and species were the top three pathogenic fungal agents causing clinically diagnosed IFIs in immunosuppressed patients. The attenuated sensitivity to azoles in and species needs close surveillance, and polymorphism might contribute to azole resistance in specific species. Multiple featured risk factors for immunosuppressed patients developing clinically diagnosed IFIs require further consideration during clinical practice.

Context : The presence of Candida albicans on the fitting surface of the denture is a major causative factor in denture stomatits. A treatment method is by combining tissue conditioner and antifungal agents. Aims : The main objective of this study is to test the efficacy of magnesium oxide combined with two tissue conditioners (Viscogel and GC Soft), in inhibiting the growth of Candida albicans. Settings and Design : Microbiological study was done in the Department of Microbiology, K S Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangalore. Materials and Methods : A total of 154 plates were prepared using Muller Hilton with Glucose and Methylene Blue dye medium and inoculated with 24-hr old standard Candida culture. Plates were divided into control and combination. Test discs with different concentrations of MgO were equidistantly placed in MgO Control, while sterile discs embedded with respective tissue conditioner were equidistantly placed in Viscogel and GC Soft controls. For combination groups, the tissue conditioners were mixed and the discs with MgO (1%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) were embedded in the mix. After 24 h of incubation, inhibition diameters were noted. Statistical Analysis Used : The data was analysed using Mann Whitney U Test, ANOVA, Tukey HSD test. Results : The inhibition effect of magnesium oxide 1% combined with tissue conditioners (VGC and GCC) is not significant in both the groups. The inhibition effect of MgO 5% and 7% combined with tissue conditioners (VGC and GCC) is very highly significant ( P < 0.001). Conclusions : Magnesium oxide in combination with tissue conditioners are effective against Candida albicans; GC soft with magnesium oxide showed a better result than Viscogel with magnesium oxide; Increasing the concentration of magnesium oxide increases the zone of inhibition of Candida albicans.

To study the susceptibilities of Aspergillus species against amphotericin B in infectious keratitis and to find out if drug resistance had any association with the molecular characteristics of the fungi. One hundred and sixty Aspergillus isolates from the corneal scrapings of patients with keratitis were tested for susceptibilities to amphotericin B by broth microdilution method. These included Aspergillus flavus (64 isolates), A. fumigatus (43) and A. niger (53). Fungal DNA was extracted by glass bead vertexing technique. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was standardized and used to amplify the 28S rRNA gene. Single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) of the PCR product was performed by the standard protocol. Of the 160 isolates, 84 (52.5%) showed low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values (≤ 1.56 μg/ml) and were designated as amphotercin B-sensitive. Similarly, 76 (47.5%) had high MICs (≥ 3.12 μg/ml) and were categorized as amphotericin B-resistant. MIC 50 and MIC 90 values ranged between 3.12-6.25 μg/ml and 3.12-12.5 μg/ml respectively. A. flavus and A. niger showed higher MIC 50 and MIC 90 values than A. fumigatus. The SSCP pattern exhibited three extra bands (150 bp, 200 bp and 250 bp each) in addition to the 260 bp amplicon. Strains (lanes 1 and 7) lacking the 150 bp band showed low MIC values (≤ 1.56 μg/ml). A. niger and A. flavus isolates had higher MICs compared to A. fumigatus, suggesting a high index of suspicion for amphotericin B resistance. PCR-SSCP was a good molecular tool to characterize Aspergillus phenotypes in fungal keratitis.

We report a rare presentation of an initially misdiagnosed case of a pseudotumor, which on histopathology was diagnosed as bilateral breast metastases of lobular carcinoma involving multiple extraocular muscles. A 61-year-old lady presented with external ophthalmoplegia and diplopia. Incisional biopsy was performed using a lid crease approach and the patient received radiotherapy and hormonal therapy. Following prolonged hormonal therapy, complete remission was achieved, with improvement in ocular motility and resolution of diplopia, about 18 months after the initial presentation. Multiple extraocular muscle involvement by breast carcinoma metastasis is very rare and should be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially in patients with a prior history of breast carcinoma.

Cocaine is used to produce a euphoric effect by abusers, who may be unaware of the devastating systemic and ocular side effects of this drug. We describe the first known case of cilioretinal artery occlusion after intranasal cocaine abuse.

Choroidal osteoma is an unusual form of intraocular calcification seen in otherwise healthy eyes. It is a benign idiopathic osseous tumor of the choroid, typically seen in young females. Choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) is a complication seen in one-third of these patients and carries a poor visual outcome. We report a case of a 25-year-old hyperthyroid female with choroidal osteoma and subfoveal CNVM in her left eye which was successfully treated using low-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin followed by a single injection of intravitreal ranibizumab.

We report the success rate and problems associated with conventional dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) in failed cases of Trans-canalicular, laser-assisted DCR (TCLADCR). Out of 50 patients operated by the TCLADCR technique during the period 2005 - 2006, 33 patients had failure, which was confirmed on syringing of the nasolacrimal passage. Before considering them for conventional DCR, a thorough ear, nose, throat (ENT) examination was done by an ENT surgeon, to rule out a nasal pathology. All the patients were operated by the conventional standard DCR method at a medical college. While performing the surgery, the problems that came across were identified and noted. The success rate was found to be 91% in this study in a follow-up period of one year, with no major intra-operative problems. Conventional DCR is still a gold standard and should be considered as a procedure of choice in failed cases of TCLDCR.