Searching Paracoccidioides Brasiliensis and related species in the burrows of burrowing owls

• Grant number: 16/06077-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2016
• End date: July 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Eduardo Bagagli
• Grantee: Danielle Hamae Yamauchi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Fungi of the genus Paracoccicidioides, Onygenales Order (Ascomycota), are the etiological agents of Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), one of the most important systemic mycosis of Latin America. The two recognized species,Paracoccidioidesbrasisliensis and P. lutzii, are poorly comprehended in its ecological aspects and the exact places where the fungus and infection occur is not yet determined. The 9-banded armadillo has been appointed as one wild reservoir of P. brasiliensis, from which the fungus has been frequently isolated of their internal organs and molecularly detected in soil collected in the animal burrows. The peculiar environmental condition of the armadillo's burrow might facilitate the saprobic fungal growing, due its stable and relatively amenable temperatures, protection against solar irradiation, winds and rains, as well as the presence of animal rests (feces, keratin and other animal protein sources) and organic material in decomposition.Could other animal burrows have the same ecological role for the fungus? Birds such as burrowing owl, Atheniacunicularia, also make their nests in soil burrows, where they accumulate diverse animal organic materials. So, in this project, we are aiming to evaluate the possible presence of Paracoccidioidesspp, as well as related Onygenales species, in the burrows of these birds throughtraditional culture and molecular detection techniques. We hope to obtain experimental data that contribute for a better ecology comprehension of these fungi, as well as to provide additional information on the risk areas that might be useful for the adoption measures to avoid new infection.