Multilocus sequence typing of Histoplasma capsulatum in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from cats living in non-endemic regions reveals a new phylogenetic clade. (May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arunmozhi Balajee, S.; Hurst, Steven F.; Chang, Loretta S.; Miles, Macon; Beeler, Emily; Hale, Christa; Kasuga, Takao; Benedict, Kaitlin; Chiller, Tom; Lindsley, Mark D.
• Is Part Of: Medical mycology. Volume 51:Number 4(2013)
• Page Start: 345
• Page End: 351
• Publication Date: 2013-05
• Subjects: Medical mycology -- Periodicals; Veterinary mycology -- Periodicals; Mycology -- Periodicals; Mycoses -- Periodicals; Pathogenic fungi -- Periodicals; 616.969005
• DOI: 10.3109/13693786.2012.733430
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-3786

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Infections caused by <italic>Histoplasma capsulatum</italic> are found most often in endemic regions of North, Central, and South America. <italic>H. capsulatum</italic> has been divided into eight geographic clades by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Recently, one isolate and five formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples were received from six of 15 suspected cases of histoplasmosis in cats residing in areas not known to be endemic for <italic>H. capsulatum</italic>. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequence analysis of the rDNA ITS-2 region confirmed the diagnosis of <italic>H. capsulatum</italic>. Since these cases were not, as noted, from the accepted endemic areas, it was of interest to understand the molecular epidemiology of these isolates. Results of molecular analysis indicated that the <italic>H. capsulatum</italic> recovered from the cats were most closely related to the North American-1 clade, but clustered separately outside this clade, suggesting that the <italic>H. capsulatum</italic> infecting the animals may represent a separate clade or phylogenetic species. This study also demonstrated the utility of obtaining valuable molecular subtype data directly from archived FFPE tissue blocks, particularly when a fungus culture was not performed or is otherwise unavailable.</p> </abstract>