Chronic granulomatous lung infection caused by the dimorphic fungus Emmonsia sp

Int J Med Microbiol. 2003 Dec;293(6):441-5. doi: 10.1078/1438-4221-00281.

Abstract

A 64-year old farmer developed cough, dyspnoea on exertion, and recurrent febrile episodes. X-ray and CT scan revealed bilateral lower lobe opacities in his lungs. A transbronchial biopsy was performed and histopathological findings were interpreted as consistent with a pulmonary necrotizing clear-cell carcinoma and later as a Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Due to persistence of symptoms, six months later another lung biopsy was performed and a mould was cultured which was identified by 18S rDNA sequencing as Emmonsia sp. The patient showed some improvement under itraconazole treatment. This is the first description of a human infection with Emmonsia sp. in Germany.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Chrysosporium / classification*
  • Chrysosporium / genetics
  • Chrysosporium / isolation & purification*
  • DNA, Ribosomal / analysis
  • Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Itraconazole / therapeutic use
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mycoses / drug therapy
  • Mycoses / microbiology*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • DNA, Ribosomal
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
  • Itraconazole

Associated data

  • GENBANK/U29390