Mycological identification

Disseminated sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis with testicular involvement

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A 35-year-old homeless man with HIV developed a serious fungal infection caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis that spread throughout his body, including to his brain and testicles. A testicle lump was initially thought to be cancer and surgically removed, but it was actually a fungal infection. This is only the fifth case ever reported of this fungus infecting testicles. The patient was successfully treated with antifungal medications and remains healthy one year later.

Isolation and Identification of Postharvest Rot Pathogens in Citrus × tangelo and Their Potential Inhibition with Acidic Electrolyzed Water

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Tangelo fruits suffer from fungal rot during storage caused primarily by two fungi: Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus sydowii. Researchers tested acidic electrolyzed water (AEW), a safe and environmentally friendly treatment, and found it effectively kills these fungi by damaging their cell membranes and causing them to leak their contents. This treatment could replace harmful chemical fungicides while keeping tangelo fruits fresh and safe for consumers.

Neosartorya udagawae pulmonary infection requiring a surgical treatment in a paediatric haematopoietic progenitor cell recipient

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A three-year-old boy with leukemia received a bone marrow transplant and developed a serious fungal lung infection caused by Neosartorya udagawae, a rare fungal pathogen. Despite receiving multiple antifungal medications at appropriate doses, the infection continued to worsen and spread in his lungs. Doctors ultimately had to surgically remove the infected portion of his lung (left upper lobe) to successfully treat the infection, and the child recovered completely without recurrence after three years of follow-up.

Continuous debridement combined with short-term posaconazole therapy for cutaneous mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus oryzae infection secondary to acute myeloid leukemia: a case report

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An 80-year-old patient with acute myeloid leukemia developed a serious fungal skin infection caused by Rhizopus oryzae on his lower leg. Doctors treated the infection by repeatedly cleaning out the infected tissue and giving him an antifungal medication called posaconazole for just one week. Despite the short treatment duration due to cost concerns, the patient’s wound gradually healed over four months through continued surgical care, showing that sometimes focused surgical treatment can be as effective as long-term medication.

Candida blankii: The Difficult Capture of a Fungus With Pathogenic Potential

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Candida blankii is a rare fungal pathogen that is increasingly being found in hospital patients’ bloodstreams and respiratory tracts. The organism is difficult to identify using standard laboratory tests, which can delay diagnosis and treatment. This case report describes two adult patients with C. blankii infections and highlights the challenges in identifying this emerging pathogen and its resistance to common antifungal medications.

A Unique Case of Fungal Endometritis Caused by Aspergillus quadrilineatus in an Immunocompetent Woman and Literature Review

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A 64-year-old woman experienced persistent vaginal bleeding for three months, which was found to be caused by a rare fungal infection (Aspergillus quadrilineatus) in her uterus. Through tissue examination and molecular testing, doctors identified the fungus and found it was sensitive to common antifungal medications. The patient was successfully treated with antifungal medication combined with surgical cleaning of the uterus, making a complete recovery. This case highlights that fungal infections should be considered when patients have abnormal vaginal bleeding, even if they appear otherwise healthy.

Onychomycosis with gray-green staining caused by Fusarium solani

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A 76-year-old gardener developed a gray-green discolored thumbnail that was initially thought to be a bacterial infection. Testing revealed it was actually caused by a fungus called Fusarium solani, which unusually produced dark-green colonies. The patient was successfully treated by removing the affected nail and applying an antifungal medication, demonstrating the importance of proper fungal testing for nail infections.

Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii and Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum infections on tissue sections: Diagnostic pitfalls and relevance of an integrated histomolecular diagnosis

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This research addresses the challenge of identifying two common fungal infections (cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis) when examining tissue samples under a microscope. The study found that these infections often look similar and can be confusing for pathologists. The researchers discovered that looking for specific fungal features, particularly ‘dented-looking’ yeasts, can help differentiate cryptococcosis from histoplasmosis. When standard laboratory tests on fresh tissue aren’t available, using molecular testing (genetic analysis) on preserved tissue samples can successfully identify the fungus in about 75% of cases.

Clinico-mycological study of superficial mycoses and correlation with anti-fungal susceptibility among the Candida isolates in a teaching institution of Western India

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This study examined fungal skin infections in 330 patients in Western India, identifying which fungi cause these infections and which antifungal drugs work best. Researchers found that Candida yeasts were especially common in nail infections while Trichophyton fungi were more common in skin infections. The antifungal drug caspofungin was most effective against Candida, while the commonly used drug fluconazole showed increasing resistance.

Rhino sinusitis caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae in a diabetic patient

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A 56-year-old diabetic man developed a sinus infection caused by a rare fungus called Lasiodiplodia theobromae, which typically affects plants. The infection was diagnosed through laboratory testing and DNA sequencing, as traditional identification methods were inconclusive. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of sinus surgery and a six-week course of antifungal medication, showing complete recovery after one year of follow-up.

Research Keyword: Mycological identification