Histoplasmine and paracoccidiodine epidemiological study in Upata, Bolivar state, Venezuela

Abstract

Summaryobjective To determine the prevalence of histoplasmosis and paracoccidiomycosis in Upata, a city in Bolívar state, Venezuela.methods Cutaneous tests on 397 volunteers, 204 with histoplasmine and 193 with paracoccidioidine. Epidemiological data were collected in a protocol sheet. Readings were performed at 24 and 48 h postinjection, by the same observer, and a positive reaction was defined as hardened papule of 5 mm or more.results Histoplasmine tests were positive in 19.6% and 34.0% at 24 and 48 h after antigens injection with a significant increase of reactivity (P ¼ 0.0019). Paracoccidiodine tests were positive in 11.3% and 19.7% at 24 and 48 h respectively and this difference was also significant (P ¼ 0.004). Risk factors which could explain these levels of reactivity could not be clearly identified. Cultures and animal inoculation from soil samples for fungus isolation were negative.conclusions Paracoccidioidomycoses and histoplasmosis are endemic in Upata.

Histoplasmosis in HIV-positive patients in Ceará, Brazil: clinical-laboratory aspects and in vitro antifungal susceptibility of Histoplasma capsulatum isolates

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Case Report: Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Caused by Disseminated Histoplasmosis in a Venezuelan Patient with HIV and Epstein–Barr Virus Reactivation Who Traveled to Japan

“…6 Although epidemiological data of endemic mycoses from Venezuela are limited, several studies are available for such information. In studies conducted in the Bolívar state in 2005, the percentage of people reactive to metabolic antigen from H. capsulatum in the urban city was 34%, 7 whereas that detected in 2004 in a rural area was 42.7%, and in both areas, the percentage of such people was higher than that of people reactive to antigen from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (urban city: 19.7%, rural area: 13.2%). 8 In another study in Caracas metropolitan area, 53 of 158 (33.5%) cases with histoplasmosis were HIV positive and 79 of 158 (50%) cases were reported as disseminated histoplasmosis, which is the most commonly diagnosed endemic mycosis in patients with HIV infection.…”

Prevalence of Paracoccidioidomycosis Infection by Intradermal Reaction in Rural Areas in Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Results are not homogeneous, with positivity rates ranging from 2% among children from different areas of Rio de Janeiro, to 82% in Cachoeira do Sul 8 . Using the same antigen in Colombia, the prevalence of sensitization to P. brasiliensis can reach up to 77% of the population in certain rural areas 4 , while in Venezuela, the prevalence rates of infection in recent years ranged from 10.2% 33 to 19.7% 6 . Argentina has lower prevalence rates of PCM compared to other Latin American countries, a variation being observed in prevalence between 1.6% 16 to 10.2%[38].…”