Human Pathogenic Entomophthorales

Abstract

SUMMARYThe pathogenic entomophthoralean fungi cause infection in insects and mammalian hosts. and species can be found in soil and insect, reptile, and amphibian droppings in tropical and subtropical areas. The life cycles of these fungi occur in these environments where infecting sticky conidia are developed. The infection is acquired by insect bite or contact with contaminated environments through open skin. typically causes chronic rhinofacial disease in immunocompetent hosts, whereas some species can be found in immunocompromised patients. infection is restricted to subcutaneous tissues but may be involved in intestinal and disseminated infections. Its early diagnosis remains challenging due to clinical similarities to other intestinal diseases. Infected tissues characteristically display eosinophilic granulomas with the Splendore-Höeppli phenomenon. However, in immunocompromised patients, the above-mentioned inflammatory reaction is absent. Laboratory diagnosis includes wet mount, culture serological assays, and molecular methodologies. The management of entomophthoralean fungi relies on traditional antifungal therapies, such as potassium iodide (KI), amphotericin B, itraconazole, and ketoconazole, and surgery. These species are intrinsically resistant to some antifungals, prompting physicians to experiment with combinations of therapies. Research is needed to investigate the immunology of entomophthoralean fungi in infected hosts. The absence of an animal model and lack of funding severely limit research on these fungi.

Gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis: An emerging mycosis difficult to diagnose but curable. Case report and review of the literature

“…The role of amphotericin B has been overcome since resistance has been observed in more than 50% of cases [25]. Potassium iodide (KI) has been traditionally used for the treatment of subcutaneous basidiobolomycosis and more recently it was employed successfully in a single case report of a child with GIB [21,66,67]. However, as suggested by Bering et al, the absence of demonstrable in vitro activity of KI against B. ranarum coupled with several possible limitations (toxicity associated with high doses, lack of any standard prescription recommendation, available new azoles) do not recommend its use in GIB [68].…”

First‐time isolation and quantification of Basidiobolus spp. from reptile faeces in KwaZulu‐Natal (South Africa) using selective media

“…haptosporus clade (such as Ba1/Ba2) 34,54 and genus-specific primer pairs. 31,33,49,54 Considering this, all our isolates from reptile faeces analysed by PCR can be considered as potentially pathogenic.…”

“…[21][22][23][24][25]28,32 However, a recent review suggests that hydrolytic enzymes released by the fungus are involved in invasion. 49 If accidentally ingested via contaminated food, Basidiobolus spp.…”

“…[51][52][53] Diagnostic confirmation of basidiobolomycosis relies currently on histological examination and cultural methods (considered as the "gold standard"), but noncultural methods such as serology and PCR are considered as promising additions. 22,24,32,33,49 To ensure that all potentially pathogenic…”

Clinical spectrum and outcome of invasive mucormycosis in children and adults: Polish experience of the decade 2010–2019

“…Mucormycetes (previously: Zygomycetes; recently proposed: Entomophthorales [4]) organisms are highly aggressive, filamentous, ubiquitous, fast-growing, broad aseptate fungi, which are unique among filamentous fungi because of their disproportionately high capacity to cause devastating disease in patients regardless of underlying conditions [5,6].…”