Hortaea werneckii isolated from silicone scuba diving equipment in Spain.
Summary of "Hortaea werneckii isolated from silicone scuba diving equipment in Spain."
During a survey of black yeasts of marine origin, some isolates of Hortaea werneckii were recovered from scuba diving equipment, such as silicone masks and snorkel mouthpieces, which had been kept under poor storage conditions. These yeasts were unambiguously identified by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Phylogenetic analysis of both the D1/D2 regions of 26S rRNA gene and ITS-5.8S rRNA gene sequences showed three distinct genetic types. This species is the agent of tinea nigra which is a rarely diagnosed superficial mycosis in Europe. In fact this mycosis is considered an imported fungal infection being much more prevalent in warm, humid parts of the world such as the Central and South Americas, Africa, and Asia. Although H. werneckii has been found in hypersaline environments in Europe, this is the first instance of the isolation of this halotolerant species from scuba diving equipment made with silicone rubber which is used in close contact with human skin and mucous membranes. The occurrence of this fungus in Spain is also an unexpected finding because cases of tinea nigra in this country are practically not seen.
Affiliation
Veterinary Mycology Group, Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Bellaterra, Barcelona , Spain.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Medical mycology : official publication of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology
ISSN: 1460-2709
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22548240
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/13693786.2012.679628
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Diving
An activity in which the organism plunges into water. It includes scuba and bell diving. Diving as natural behavior of animals goes here, as well as diving in decompression experiments with humans or animals.
Silicone Gels
Synthetic organosiloxane gels that are formed from synthetic polymers of silicone oxide with organic sidechains (polydimethylsiloxane) by lengthening the polymer chains. Unlike silicone elastomers, they are not treated with amorphous silica. They are used as fillers in breast implants.
Silicone Elastomers
Polymers of silicone that are formed by crosslinking and treatment with amorphous silica to increase strength. They have properties similar to vulcanized natural rubber, in that they stretch under tension, retract rapidly, and fully recover to their original dimensions upon release. They are used in the encapsulation of surgical membranes and implants.
Breast Implants
Implants used to reconstruct and/or cosmetically enhance the female breast. They have an outer shell or envelope of silicone elastomer and are filled with either saline or silicone gel. The outer shell may be either smooth or textured.
Equipment Safety
Freedom of equipment from actual or potential hazards.
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