Histoplasmosis in Europe: Report on an epidemiological survey from the European Confederation of Medical Mycology Working Group

Ashbee, H. R.; Evans, E. G. V.; Viviani, Maria Anna; Dupont, B.; Chryssanthou, Erja; Surmont, I.; Tomsíková, A; Vachkov, P.; Ener, Beyza; Zala, J.; Tintelnot, Kathrin

doi:10.1080/13693780701591481

Cited by 109 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…We have observed that this mycosis was more common in males (79.5%), especially males between the ages of 21 and 40 years with or without HIV/ AIDS. [17][18][19] Other studies have reported similar results; an epidemiological survey performed in European countries by the European Confederation of Medical Mycology Working Group found that 75% of histoplasmosis patients were males ages 21-40 years. 19 More recently, Arango and others 17 reported that, in a cohort of Colombian histoplasmosis cases, 77% were males, with a mean age of 38.4 years; an AIDSrelated condition was observed in 70.5% of these patients.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Diagnostic Value of Culture and Serological Tests in the Diagnosis of Histoplasmosis in HIV and non-HIV Colombian Patients

Arango-Bustamante¹,

Restrepo

Cano

et al. 2013

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. We determined the value of culture and serological tests used to diagnose histoplasmosis. The medical records of 391 histoplasmosis patients were analyzed. Diagnosis of the mycosis was assessed by culture, complement fixation, and immunodiffusion tests; 310 patients (79.5%) were male, and 184 patients (47.1%) were infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Positivity value for cultures was 35.7% (74/207), reactivity of serological tests was 95.2% (160/168), and a combination of both methodologies was 16.9% (35/207) for non-HIV patients. Positivity value for cultures was 75.0% (138/184), reactivity of serological tests was 92.4% (85/92), and a combination of both methodologies was 26.0% (48/184) for HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients; 48.1% (102/212) of extrapulmonary samples from HIV/AIDS patients yielded positive cultures compared with 23.1% (49/212) in non-HIV patients. Lymphocyte counts made for 33.1% (61/184) of HIV/AIDS patients showed a trend to low CD4+ numbers and higher proportion of positive cultures. These results indicate that culture is the most reliable fungal diagnostic method for HIV/AIDS patients, and contrary to what is generally believed, serological assays are useful for diagnosing histoplasmosis in these patients.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Diagnostic Value of Culture and Serological Tests in the Diagnosis of Histoplasmosis in HIV and non-HIV Colombian Patients

Arango-Bustamante¹,

Restrepo

Cano

et al. 2013

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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“…H. capsulatum is considered an endemic fungus of the Tennessee, Ohio, and Mississippi river basins occurring especially in soils contaminated with droppings of birds and bats. Moreover, an increasing number of autochthonous cases of histoplasmosis have been described in Europe (Ashbee et al, 2008).…”

Section: Fungimentioning

confidence: 99%

Routine screening of harmful microorganisms in beach sands: Implications to public health

Sabino

Rodrigues

Costa

et al. 2014

Science of The Total Environment

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Beaches worldwide provide recreational opportunities to hundreds of millions of people and serve as important components of coastal economies. Beach water is often monitored for microbiological quality to detect the presence of indicators of human sewage contamination so as to prevent public health outbreaks associated with water contact. However, growing evidence suggests that beach sand can harbor microbes harmful to human health, often in concentrations greater than the beach water. Currently, there are no standards for monitoring, sampling, analyzing, or managing beach sand quality. In addition to indicator microbes, growing evidence has identified pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and fungi in a variety of beach sands worldwide. The public health threat associated with these populations through direct and indirect contact is unknown because so little research has been conducted relating to health outcomes associated with sand quality. In this manuscript, we present the consensus findings of a workshop of experts convened in Lisbon, Portugal to discuss the current state of knowledge on beach sand microbiological quality and to develop suggestions for standardizing the evaluation of sand at coastal beaches. The expert group at the "Microareias 2012" workshop recommends that 1) beach sand should be screened for a variety of pathogens harmful to human health, and sand monitoring should then be initiated alongside regular water monitoring; 2) sampling and analysis protocols should be standardized to allow proper comparisons among beach locations; and 3) further studies are needed to estimate human health risk with exposure to contaminated beach sand. Much of the manuscript is focused on research specific to Portugal, but similar results have been found elsewhere, and the findings have worldwide implications.

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“…An epidemiologic survey in Europe showed that for at least 25% of patients, symptoms did not occur for at least five years after travel. 18 To the best of our knowledge, the present case is the most delayed diagnosis ever recorded for H. capsulatum var. duboisii, other than a case of H. capsulatum var.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Imported African Histoplasmosis in an Immunocompetent Patient 40 Years after Staying in a Disease-Endemic Area

Richaud¹,

Chandesris²,

Benzaquen-Forner³

et al. 2014

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. Histoplasmosis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii is a rare disease outside central and western Africa. In Europe, all cases are imported. We report a case of an African histoplasmosis with isolated pulmonary involvement in a non-immunocompromised patient that occurred 40 years after his stay in a disease-endemic area. The patient was given itraconazole. 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography was used to assess evolution during treatment. The outcome for the patient was favorable.African histoplasmosis may occur in persons without identified immunodeficiency, even a long time after exposure. African histoplasmosis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboiisi, a dimorphic fungus, is an invasive fungal disease endemic to central and western Africa and Madagascar. About thirty cases were reported in Europe and all are imported were cases. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] We report an immunocompetent Caucasian patient without identified immunodeficiency who had chronic pulmonary African histoplasmosis diagnosed four decades after a stay in western Africa.A 60-year-old man from Portugal was admitted to an emergency department in October 2006 for cough with clear sputum and chest pain. His medical history indicated a gastroduodenal ulcer. He still visited his native country each year even though he had lived in France for 40 years. Forty years ago, he lived in Guinea-Bissau for two years during his military service. He is now a factory worker and enjoys gardening.The functional pulmonary symptoms occurred gradually without chills, sweats or fever for several weeks. Results of a clinical examination were normal. Oxygen saturation was 96%, temperature was 37 C, and there was no weight loss. A chest radiograph showed bilateral diffuse opacities with nodular cavitations. Chest computed tomography confirmed the presence of disseminated nodules (3-6 cm in diameter), some with cavitations and one of them calcified, but no adenopathy, pleural effusion, nor underlying parenchymal abnormalities (Figure 1).Laboratory tests showed normal blood cell counts: 5,400 leukocytes/mm 3 with 3,400 neutrophils/mm 3 , 1,400 lymphocytes/mm 3 , and 200 eosinophils/mm 3 . The C-reactive protein level was 138 mg/L, and serum levels of liver enzymes, bilirubin, and lactate dehydrogenase were within reference ranges. Sputum cultures were negative for bacteria, mycobacteria, and fungi. Serologic test results for aspergillosis and hydatidosis were negative. Abdominal and cardiac ultrasound and bronchoscopic evaluations show normal results. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid contained 223 + 10 3 cells/mL, 93% alveolar macrophages, 5% lymphocytes, 2% neutrophils, and no neoplastic cells. Specific staining and/or cultures were negative for Pneumocystis jirovecii, mycobacteria, and bacterial microorganisms. Gomori-Grocott staining showed oval-shaped yeast 8-10 μm in diameter with narrow budding compatible with H. capsulatum var. duboisii (Figure 2). The culture yielded growth of a mycelial phase with tub...

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Histoplasmosis in Europe: Report on an epidemiological survey from the European Confederation of Medical Mycology Working Group

Cited by 109 publications

References 31 publications

Diagnostic Value of Culture and Serological Tests in the Diagnosis of Histoplasmosis in HIV and non-HIV Colombian Patients

Diagnostic Value of Culture and Serological Tests in the Diagnosis of Histoplasmosis in HIV and non-HIV Colombian Patients

Routine screening of harmful microorganisms in beach sands: Implications to public health

Imported African Histoplasmosis in an Immunocompetent Patient 40 Years after Staying in a Disease-Endemic Area

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