Molecular epidemiology of Fonsecaea species

Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Mar;17(3):464-9. doi: 10.3201/eid1703.100555.

Abstract

To assess population diversities among 81 strains of fungi in the genus Fonsecaea that had been identified down to species level, we applied amplified fragment-length polymorphism (AFLP) technology and sequenced the internal transcribed spacer regions and the partial cell division cycle, beta-tubulin, and actin genes. Many species of the genus Fonsecaea cause human chromoblastomycosis. Strains originated from a global sampling of clinical and environmental sources in the Western Hemisphere, Asia, Africa, and Europe. According to AFLP fingerprinting, Fonsecaea isolates clustered in 5 groups corresponding with F. pedrosoi, F. monophora, and F. nubica: the latter 2 species each comprised 2 groups, and F. pedrosoi appeared to be of monophyletic origin. F. pedrosoi was found nearly exclusively in Central and South America. F. monophora and F. nubica were distributed worldwide, but both showed substantial geographic structuring. Clinical cases outside areas where Fonsecaea is endemic were probably distributed by human migration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics
  • Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis
  • Ascomycota / classification
  • Ascomycota / genetics*
  • Ascomycota / isolation & purification
  • Chromoblastomycosis / epidemiology*
  • Chromoblastomycosis / microbiology
  • DNA, Fungal / analysis
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Female
  • Global Health
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Epidemiology*
  • Mycological Typing Techniques
  • Species Specificity
  • Tubulin / genetics

Substances

  • Actins
  • DNA, Fungal
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
  • Tubulin