En este estudio se usó ajoene (0,4%) tópico para evaluar sus efectos en un caso de tiña de la cabeza por Microsporum canis, un dermatofito con reconocida actividad queratinofílica. El crecimiento del hongo se evaluó por microscopia electrónica de transmisión, en muestras extraídas antes de iniciar el tratamiento y luego de 45 días de tratamiento. Los cambios más importantes fueron alteración de la membrana citoplasmática, desintegración del citoplasma y deterioro de organelas. Esta nueva evidencia en los estudios in vivo muestra la degeneración sufrida en conidias e hifas del hongo comprometiendo la integridad celular con el tratamiento por vía tópica con ajoene. Los cultivos, a los 30 días, demostraron ausencia de las estructuras fúngicas manteniéndose esta condición hasta 45 días después del tratamiento. El estudio muestra ultraestructuralmente la invasión endo-ectotrix de M. canis en cabello humano y el efecto antifúngico propio de ajoene con su destacada y potente bioactividad antiproliferativa en el proceso micótico evaluado.

In this study, topic ajoene was used (0.4%) to evaluate its effects in a case of a fungal infection of the scalp caused by Microsporum canis, a dermatophytes with a known keratinophylic activity. The activity of the fungus was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy, in samples extracted before the beginning and 45 days after the treatment. The most important changes were alteration of the cytoplasmic membrane, disintegration of the cytoplasm and organelles deterioration. This new evidence in the studies in vivo shows the degeneration suffered by conidia and hyphae of the fungus, compromising the cellular integrity with the topical treatment with ajoene. The cultures, 30 days after treatment, demonstrated the absence of the fungal structures maintaining this condition up to 45 days after the treatment. The study shows ultrastructurally the invasion endo-ectotrix of M. canis in human hair and the antifungal effect characteristic of ajoene with its outstanding and potent bioactivity antiproliferative bioactive in the evaluated micotic process.

De tres cepas de Microsporum canis provenientes de pacientes con Tinea capitis se extrajeron macroconidias que fueron expuestas durante 13 días consecutivos a concentraciones crecientes de ajoene, entre 1 y 300 μM, usando el método de microdilución en placa CLSI M38-A2. Las estructuras fueron evaluadas morfométricamente para observar el efecto de este compuesto sobre el hongo. La comparación entre las conidias normales y las expuestas mostraron diferencias morfológicas. Los efectos in vitro de ajoene fueron tiempo dependiente, capaces de provocar en los fragmoconidios cambios morfológicos drásticos e irreversibles, evidenciados en el notable aumento del espesor de la membrana citoplasmática y en la pérdida de la proporción de los espacios interseptales de las conidias. El ajoene, como agente antimicótico, inhibió el crecimiento conidial, reconocido en microscopia por la deformación de la arquitectura normal de las células. La pérdida de la funcionalidad y viabilidad de las conidias, que se tornaron irregularares, probablemente se encuentran asociadas a alteración de la síntesis de la membrana plasmática e interconidial.

From three strains of Microsporum canis isolated from patients with Tinea capitis, macroconidia were extracted. These were exposed during 13 cosecutive days to growing concentrations of ajoene, between 1-300μM, using the microdilution method in plate M38-A2. The structures were monitored morphometrically to observe the effect of this compound on the fungus. The comparison between the normal conidia and those exposed to the compound showed morphologic diferences. The in vitro effects were time dependent, able to induce drastic and irreversible morphologic changes in the fragmoconidia, evidenced in the noticeable increase of thickness of cytoplasmic membrane and in the loss of proportion of the interceptal spaces of conidia. Ajoene, as antimicotic agent, inhibited conidial growth, which is evidenced under the microscope by the deformation of the normal architecture of cells. The loss of function and viability of conidia, which became irregular, is probably associated to alteration of the synthesis of plasmic and interconidial membrane.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar la susceptibilidad in vitro de aislados de Cryptocococus spp con una nueva clase de antifúngicos, hidrazonas esteroidales y comparar su actividad antifúngica en combinación con ajoeno y posaconazol contra aislados de Cryptococcus spp. Se utilizaron tres aislados del género Cryptococcus 42794, 4050 y 44192 y se evaluaron su sensibilidad y efectos sinérgicos con las hidrazonas esteroidales, ajoeno y posaconazol, según el documento M27-A2 del CLSI. Se incluyeron las cepas Candida albicans (ATCC 90028) y Candida parapsilosis (ATCC 22019) como controles. Se observó con las hidrazonas (H1, H2, H3, H4) un efecto plateau a partir de 10 µM (CMI). Sin embargo, con la H4 se obtuvo bajo porcentaje de inhibición del crecimiento. Con el ajoeno, se obtuvieron valores de CMI de 25 y 50 µM. El posaconazol mostró altos valores de inhibición y un valor de CMI de 6 µM para 42794 y 44192 y un CMI de 20 µM para el aislado 4050. Se obtuvieron efectos sinérgicos al combinar posaconazol con ajoeno, ajoeno con hidrazona 3 y posaconazol con hidrazona 3. Los valores de concentración inhibitoria fraccional fueron de 0,24; 0,16 y 0,09 respectivamente, indicando un marcado efecto sinérgico. Se obtuvieron efectos sinérgicos importantes entre el posaconazol con ajoeno, ajoeno con hidrazona 3 y posaconazol con hidrazona 3, lo cual sería muy útil para futuros estudios clínicos.

The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro susceptibility to novel antifungal compounds, the steroidal hydrazones, and to compare their antifungal activity and synergistic effects with other compounds, such as ajoeno and posaconazole on Cryptocococus spp isolates. Three Cryptococcus strains were used for this study (42794, 4050 and 44192) and their antifungal sensitivity and synergistic effects with ajoeno and posaconazole were evaluated according to the CLSI protocol number M27-A2. Candida albicans (ATCC 90028) and Candida parapsilosis (ATCC 22019) were used as controls. A plateau effect with hydrazones (H1, H2, H3, H4) was observed after 10 µM (CMI). However, with H4 only a mild inhibition on the growth was obtained. Combining hydrazone and ajoeno, CMI values between 25 and 50 µM were obtained. The highest inhibitions values were obtained with posaconazole and a CMI value of 6 µM for the strains 42794 and 44192, and a CMI value of 20 µM for the strain 4050. Synergy was observed combining posaconazole with ajoeno, ajoeno with hydrazone 3 and posaconazole with hydrazone 3. Fractional inhibitory concentrations were 0.24, 0.16 and 0.09 respectively, which might indicate a synergistic effect. Important synergistic effects were obtained with posaconazole and ajoeno, ajoeno and hydrazone 3 and posaconazole with hydrazone 3, which would be very useful for clinical trials in the future.

No presente trabalho os autores procuram mostrar o perfil epidemiológico do escorpionismo nos Municípios Acosta e Caripe, localizados na subregião geográfica do maciço montanhoso do Turimiquire do Estado de Monagas, Venezuela. Durante o período de 1987 a 1993, registrou-se um total de 298 acidentes causados por escorpiões, correspondendo 212 ao Município de Acosta e 86 ao de Caripe. Acosta apresentou um índice de incidência anual de 18,3 casos por 10.000 habitantes e 128% para o período meio de estudo; o índice de escorpionismo foi 4,18 vezes maior que o apresentado em Caripe. Os dados indicam que o Município de Acosta é hiperendêmico para este acidente, com um comportamento variável e uma tendência ao incremento ao longo dos anos. Os resultados obtidos evidenciam que estas regiões do Estado de Monagas são endêmicas para o acidente peçonhento causado por escorpiões que assumem importância como problema de saúde pública, mais ainda quando são áreas de dispersão do gênero Tityus.

Scorpion poisoning was surveyed in Acosta and Caripe counties, located in the Turimiquire subregion of Monagas State, Venezuela, aiming to expand information on stings by characterizing some epidemiological aspects. From 1987 to 1993, 298 cases of scorpion stings were recorded in Acosta and Caripe counties. Acosta had 212 cases, with an annual incidence rate of 18.3‰(cases per 10,000 inhabitants) and a period median incidence rate of 128‰. The scorpion poisoning index is 4.18 times greater in Acosta than in Caripe, confirming the former as a hyperendemic zone for this type of injury, with a phenomenon of cyclical temporal fluctuations and an upward trend. This area is infested with scorpions of the genus Tityus. Our results show that the region surveyed in Monagas State is endemic for scorpion stings, posing a major public health problem.

No presente trabalho os autores procuram mostrar o perfil epidemiológico do escorpionismo nos Municípios Acosta e Caripe, localizados na subregião geográfica do maciço montanhoso do Turimiquire do Estado de Monagas, Venezuela. Durante o período de 1987 a 1993, registrou-se um total de 298 acidentes causados por escorpiões, correspondendo 212 ao Município de Acosta e 86 ao de Caripe. Acosta apresentou um índice de incidência anual de 18,3 casos por 10.000 habitantes e 128% para o período meio de estudo; o índice de escorpionismo foi 4,18 vezes maior que o apresentado em Caripe. Os dados indicam que o Município de Acosta é hiperendêmico para este acidente, com um comportamento variável e uma tendência ao incremento ao longo dos anos. Os resultados obtidos evidenciam que estas regiões do Estado de Monagas são endêmicas para o acidente peçonhento causado por escorpiões que assumem importância como problema de saúde pública, mais ainda quando são áreas de dispersão do gênero Tityus.

Scorpion poisoning was surveyed in Acosta and Caripe counties, located in the Turimiquire subregion of Monagas State, Venezuela, aiming to expand information on stings by characterizing some epidemiological aspects. From 1987 to 1993, 298 cases of scorpion stings were recorded in Acosta and Caripe counties. Acosta had 212 cases, with an annual incidence rate of 18.3‰(cases per 10,000 inhabitants) and a period median incidence rate of 128‰. The scorpion poisoning index is 4.18 times greater in Acosta than in Caripe, confirming the former as a hyperendemic zone for this type of injury, with a phenomenon of cyclical temporal fluctuations and an upward trend. This area is infested with scorpions of the genus Tityus. Our results show that the region surveyed in Monagas State is endemic for scorpion stings, posing a major public health problem.