Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of four pregnant patients with sporotrichosis treated with cryosurgery.

<p>Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of four pregnant patients with sporotrichosis treated with cryosurgery.</p

Cryosurgery for the treatment of cutaneous sporotrichosis in four pregnant women - Fig 1

<p>a) Case 2 presenting lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis in the arm; b) The same patient with complete healed lesions after 2 sessions of cryosurgery.</p

Abdominal Cystic-Like Lesion as a Rare Complication of Neglected Infectious Disease - Fig 2

<p><b>A.</b> Patient’s abdominal bloating with a large umbilical hernia and scarring lesions in the face and trunk. <b>B.</b> Abdominal CT scan with oral and intravenous contrast reveals an 11.1 x 6.5 cm lesion with a density consistent with fat (-56 HU) in the anterior wall of the abdominal cavity (white arrow).</p

Laboratory and imaging results of the patient with acute paracoccidioidomycosis.

<p><b>A.</b><i>Paracoccidioides</i> spp. multiple budding cells in KOH preparation from the skin biopsy. <b>B.</b> Brain CT scan showing a pontomesencephalic tumor lesion (2.3 cm) with ring-enhancement after intravenous contrast (white arrow). <b>C.</b> Normal chest X-ray.</p

Paracoccidioidomycosis due to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis S1 plus HIV co-infection

<div><p> BACKGROUND Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is one of the most important systemic mycoses in Latin America and the leading fungal cause of mortality in non-immunosuppressed individuals in Brazil. However, HIV/PCM co-infection can increase the clinical severity in these co-infected patients. This co-infection is rarely reported in the literature mainly because of the different epidemiological profiles of these infections. Furthermore, PCM is a neglected and non-notifiable disease, which may underestimate the real importance of this disease. The advent of molecular studies on the species of the genus Paracoccidioides has expanded the knowledge regarding the severity and the clinical spectrum in PCM. In this context, the development of studies to describe the association of the Paracoccidioides phylogenetic cryptic species in vulnerable populations, such as HIV-infected patients, appears relevant. OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical, epidemiological, therapeutic and prognostic aspects in HIV/PCM co-infected patients, along with the molecular identification of the Paracoccidioides species involved in these cases. METHODS The investigators performed a molecular and clinical retrospective study involving HIV/PCM co-infected patients, from a reference centre for PCM care in the endemic area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 1998 to 2015. Molecular identification of the fungal strains was done by amplification of partial sequences of arf and gp43 genes. FINDINGS Of 89 patients diagnosed with PCM by fungal isolation in the culture, a viable isolate was recovered for molecular analysis from 44 patients. Of these 44 patients, 28 (63.6%) had their serum samples submitted for enzyme immunoassay tests for screening of HIV antibodies, and 5 (17.9%) had a positive result. All cases were considered severe, with a variable clinical presentation, including mixed, acute/subacute clinical forms and a high rate of complications, requiring combination therapy. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis S1 was the species identified in all cases. CONCLUSIONS HIV/PCM co-infection can change the natural history of this fungal disease. The authors reinforce the need to include HIV screening diagnostic tests routinely for patients with PCM.</p></div

Massive splenomegaly ranging 30 cm with necrotic foci after splenectomy performed in a patient with disseminated and acute paracoccidioidomycosis.

<p>Massive splenomegaly ranging 30 cm with necrotic foci after splenectomy performed in a patient with disseminated and acute paracoccidioidomycosis.</p