Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42606383›Full record

ArticleMedical mycology2026

Captive lizards (Squamata: Sauria) as reservoirs of medically important and antifungal-resistant yeasts.

Rossella Samarelli, Nicola Pugliese, Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan, Mara Miglianti, Renata Fagundes-Moreira, Pietro Laricchiuta, Matteo Legrottaglie, Patrizia Danesi, Domenico Otranto, Gustavo Giusiano

Abstract read
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Article in Medical mycology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Rossella SamarelliDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Valenzano, 70010 Bari, Italy.
Nicola PuglieseDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Valenzano, 70010 Bari, Italy.
Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-RoldanDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Valenzano, 70010 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9787-932X
Mara MigliantiDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Valenzano, 70010 Bari, Italy.
Renata Fagundes-MoreiraDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Valenzano, 70010 Bari, Italy.
Pietro LaricchiutaZoo Safari di Fasano, 72015, Brindisi, Italy.
Matteo LegrottaglieZoo Safari di Fasano, 72015, Brindisi, Italy.
Patrizia DanesiIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy.
Domenico OtrantoDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Valenzano, 70010 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7518-476X
Gustavo GiusianoDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Valenzano, 70010 Bari, Italy.

Funding

Next Generation EU-MUR PNRR Extended Partnership initiative on Emerging Infectious Diseases PE00000007PN Ricerca, Innovazione e Competitività 2615_QIIR112_00065
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Zoological collections represent unique environments in which captivity-related alterations of host microbiota may increase susceptibility to infectious diseases. While reptiles are recognized reservoirs of microorganisms, data on quantitative yeast colonization and antifungal susceptibility in captive lizards remain limited. This study assessed 28 lizards belonging to nine species housed in a zoological park in southern Italy. Skin and cloacal swabs (n = 56) revealed yeast growth in 75% of animals and 57.1% of samples, with positivity rates of 60.7% and 53.6% for skin and cloacal samples, respectively. MALDI-TOF MS and ITS region sequencing identified 113 isolates belonging to 17 distinct fungal species, including Arthrographis spp., Meyerozyma spp., Candida spp., Pichia spp., Trichosporon spp., and others. Arthrographis kalrae was the predominant species (i.e., 36.3%), followed by Meyerozyma guilliermondii (i.e., 16.8%). Mean colonization loads were 4.25 CFU/swab for skin and 10.50 CFU/swab for cloacal samples. Eight species were considered clinically relevant, including the Candida parapsilosis complex, Pichia kudriavzevii, and Trichosporon asahii. Antifungal susceptibility testing performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, 2022) guidelines revealed marked phenotypic heterogeneity and frequent elevation of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Above-threshold MICs differed significantly according to yeast species, antifungal compound, and sampling site. Non-wild-type phenotypes and elevated MICs were observed across multiple antifungal classes, with amphotericin B >64 µg/ml and fluconazole >256 µg/ml in several isolates (i.e., 92.3% and 75.0%, respectively). Reduced susceptibility or resistance was evident in Clavispora lusitaniae, M. guilliermondii, and Wickerhamomyces anomalus. These findings support the hypothesis that captive lizards may represent asymptomatic reservoirs of opportunistic and potentially antifungal-resistant yeasts, emphasizing the importance of hygiene measures and microbiological surveillance in zoological settings.

Indexed as

Animals, ZooAntifungal AgentsDisease ReservoirsDrug Resistance, FungalLizardsMycosesYeastsAnimalsCloacaItalyMicrobial Sensitivity TestsSkinSpectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-IonizationAntifungal Agentsantifungal resistancecaptive lizardsone healthopportunistic fungireservoiryeasts

Identifiers

PMID42606383
PMCPMC13499607

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.