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Detection of Fungal Elements in Atherosclerotic Plaques Using Mycological, Pathological and Molecular Methods



Masoumi O1 ; Shahzadi M2 ; Kordbacheh P1 ; Zaini F1 ; Mahmoudi S1 ; Mahmoudi M3 ; Bahreini H4 ; Safara M1 ; Mirhendi H1
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Dept. of Cardiovascular Surgery, Imam Khomeini Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Mehr Diagnostic Medical Laboratory, Karaj, Iran

Source: Iranian Journal of Public Health Published:2015

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to detect fungi in atherosclerotic plaques and investigate their possible role in atherosclerosis. Methods: Coronary atherosclerotic plaques specimen were obtained from patients with atherosclerosis. Direct exami-nation, culture, histopathology study, PCR and sequencing were performed to detect/identify the mycotic elements in the plaques. Age, sex, smoking, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, family history of heart diseases and diabetes were considered and data were analyzed using Chi Square test by SPSS version 15. Results: A total of 41 specimens were analyzed. Direct examination for fungal elements was negative in all cases but in culture only one specimen grew as a mold colony. The presence of fungal elements were confirmed in 6 and 2 tissue sections stained by Gomori methenamine silver and Hematoxylin and Eosin methods, respectively. Using PCR, 11 cases were positive for fungi. The DNA sequence analysis of six positive specimens which were randomly selected revealed fungi as Candida albicans (n=3), Candida guilliermondii (n=2) and Monilia sp. (n=1). Conclusion: A significant association between the presence of fungi in atherosclerotic plaques and severity of athero-genesis and atherosclerotic disease was not found. This could be due to limited numbers of patients included in our study. However, the presence of fungal elements in 26.8% of our specimens is considerable and the results does not exclude the correlation between the presence of fungi with atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. © 2015, Iranian Journal of Public Health. All rights reserved.