title: Human-impacted areas of France are environmental reservoirs of the Pseudallescheria boydii/Scedosporium apiospermum species complex.
abstract: Species of the Pseudallescheria boydii/Scedosporium apiospermum complex (PSC) are emerging fungal pathogens able to chronically colonize the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). As P. boydii was found more frequently colonizing the lungs of CF patients in France than in other European countries in a previous report, the present study was conducted in order to clarify distribution of PSC species in France and to characterize their natural habitat. The highest densities of PSC isolates were found in human-impacted areas, i.e. agricultural areas, fluids obtained from wastewater treatment plants, playgrounds and industrial areas. PSC was not detected from soil samples collected in forests. Most PSC culture-positive soil samples exhibited a pH range of 6-8. Scedosporium dehoogii, the most abundant species, was detected in all human-impacted area types except vineyards, whereas Scedosporium aurantiacum was mostly found in agricultural areas. Pseudallescheria boydii and S. apiospermum were predominantly isolated from seashores and playgrounds respectively. Pseudallescheria minutispora was found only once from a playground. This study highlights potential sources of contamination of the patients, especially in the CF context.
authors.affiliation: L'UNAM Université, Université d'Angers, Groupe d'Etude des Interactions Hôte-Pathogène, EA 3142, Angers, France; Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Angers, France.
authors.forename: Amandine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rougeron
authors.forename: Gaëlle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schuliar
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leto
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sitterlé
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Landry
authors.forename: Marie-Elisabeth
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bougnoux
authors.forename: Abdessamad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kobi
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bouchara
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giraud
mesh_terms: D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007218:Industrial Microbiology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011541:Pseudallescheria / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D021681:Scedosporium / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D062065:Wastewater / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D062065:Wastewater