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. 2025 Mar;56(1):179-189.
doi: 10.1007/s42770-024-01604-7. Epub 2025 Jan 10.

Pathogenic Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. in coastal waters from southern Brazil: an one health approach

Emília Ferreira Andrade  1   2 , Vanice Rodrigues Poester  1   2 , Bruna Muradás Esperon  1   2 , Mariana Rodrigues Trápaga  1   2 , Jéssica Estefânia Dávila Hidalgo  1   2 , Fabiana Barreiros Ferreira  1 , Manuel Macedo de Souza  3 , Cecília Bittencourt Severo  4 , Andrea Von Groll  1 , Melissa Orzechowski Xavier  5   6   7
Affiliations

Pathogenic Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. in coastal waters from southern Brazil: an one health approach

Emília Ferreira Andrade et al. Braz J Microbiol. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Aspergillus and Candida are ubiquitous fungi included in the group of high priority in the World Health Organization list of fungal pathogens. They are found in various ecosystems and the environmental role in increasing the resistance to antifungals has been shown. Thus, we aimed to determine the occurrence of Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. pathogenic species in water samples from a coastal ecosystem from southern Brazil, and its antifungal susceptibility profile. Water samples were collected monthly at three environmental sites, over 25 months. Abiotic parameters of the water samples were analyzed as well as antifungal susceptibility. Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. were detected in 44% (n = 33/75) and 40% (n = 30/75) respectively of the samples, totaling 67 and 96 isolates. Section Fumigati and C. parapsilosis were the most section/species isolated. Triazole resistance was detected in 3% of the Aspergillus spp. (2/67) and in 1% of the Candida spp. (1/96) isolates. Our study contributes with data showing that coastal aquatic environments can serve as a source of infection of resistant fungal isolates, proving the need for environmental surveillance and monitoring of fungal resistance in the One Health perspective.

Keywords: Abiotic parameters; Antifungal profile; Estuary; Fungal resistance; Marine environments.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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