Acute Conjunctivitis with Episcleritis and Anterior Uveitis Linked to Adiaspiromycosis and Freshwater Sponges, Amazon Region, Brazil, 2005

Abstract

An epidemiologic investigation of an ocular disease outbreak among children was linked to the unusual fungus Emmonsia sp., an agent of adiaspiromycosis.

Pulmonary adiaspiromycosis in armadillos killed by motor vehicle collisions in Brazil

“…To this date, in a literature review, at least 13 reports of human PA are available in the country (“ Supplementary Material ”). Furthermore, superficial adiaspiromycosis was reported to cause granulomatous conjunctivitis in children in the Amazon basin, and histopathologic examination of ocular nodules identified adiaspores-like structures 10 . Future studies molecularly identifying the fungal species in humans are necessary to explore the epidemiology of the disease, including the use of armadillo species as indicator of potential exposure areas to humans.…”

“…The disease is caused by the host´s immune response against the growing adiaspores, leading to the formation of granulomas 9 . The lesions are mainly restricted to the lungs and occasionally regional lymph nodes, although ocular and systemic adiaspiromycosis have also been described 8 , 10 . These lesions have been reported in humans, wild fossorial mammals (rodents, moles, armadillos), some species of carnivores, deer, horses and anurans (“ Supplementary Material ”).…”

Adiaspiromycosis of anApodemus agrariuscaptured wild rodent in Korea

“…Emmonsia crescens is the main causative agent of adiaspiromycosis in mainland Europe and the UK, whereas Emmonsia parva is widespread in certain exothermic regions, including Central Asia, Africa and parts of the America [ 4 ]. The first human case of adiaspiromycosis due to Emmonsia crescens was reported in France in 1960 [ 4 ] and human pulmonary adiaspiromycosis has been reported in the literature from multiple countries including Russia, Germany, the Czech Republic, Guatemala, Brazil and the United States [ 5 , 6 ]. Infection of wild life has been reported in squirrels in Canada [ 7 ], Eurasian otters ( Lutra lutra ) in England [ 8 ], European beavers in Sweden [ 9 ], raccoons ( Procyon lotor ) [ 10 ], bullfrogs ( Rana catesbeiana ) in US [ 11 ] and European hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus ) in Portugal [ 12 ].…”

“…Adiapiromycosis patients have a chronic history of progressive dyspnea, nonproduction cough, fatigue, low-grade fever and, less frequently, with hemophysis, pain, chills, malaise, weight loss and auscultatory crackles [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. In addition to the pulmonary organ, Emmonsia crescens can cause cutaneous adiaspiromycosis and associated acute conjunctivitis [ 5 ]. In many of the reported cases, Emmonsia crescens infection was related to play in the surroundings of an animal burrow, which may have played the role of a reservoir, and other outdoor activities [ 18 ].…”