Molecular identification of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and relateds in animals of the order Xenarthra road-killed in the region of Mato Grosso do Sul

• Grant number: 19/02842-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2019
• End date: August 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Eduardo Bagagli
• Grantee: Francine Antunes Nunes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is one of the most important systemic endemic mycoses in Latin America, caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and related. The agents proved to be difficult to isolate, especially from nature, the disease presents a long latency period, with no clear outbreaks; which makes it harder to know the whereabouts. One of the few known environmental aspects of the fungus is its possible association with some wild animals, such as the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus Novemcinctus). Thus, the objective of this work is to identify molecularly Paracoccidioides spp., through Nested PCR, in tissues of different road-killed animals of the order Xenarthra, (anteater and other armadillos) from a few studied area (Mato Grosso do Sul). The data might contribute for a better understanding of the fungus ecological niche (s) and definition of the endemic areas for PCM.