| Emmonsiosis | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Emergomycosis[1] |
| Specialty | Infectious diseases[2] |
| Symptoms | Skin rash[2] |
| Causes | Emergomyces, previously classified under genusEmmonsia[3] |
| Risk factors | HIV,organ transplant,steroid use.[1] |
| Diagnostic method | skin biopsy,histopathology[1] |
| Differential diagnosis | Histoplasmosis[1] |
| Treatment | Antifungals |
| Medication | Amphotericin B[1] |
| Frequency | Rare[1] |
Emmonsiosis, also known asemergomycosis, is a systemicfungal infection that can affect thelungs, generally always affects theskin and can become widespread.[1][2] The lesions in the skin look like small redbumps and patches with adip,ulcer anddead tissue in the centre.[4]
It is caused by theEmergomyces species, a novel dimorphicfungus, previously classified under the genusEmmonsia.[3] These fungi are found in soil and transmitted bybreathing in its spores from the air.[1] Inside the body it converts to yeast-like cells which then cause disease and invade beyond the lungs.[1] Diagnosis is byskin biopsy and itsappearance under the microscope.[5] It is difficult to distinguish fromhistoplasmosis.[3][6]Treatment is usually withamphotericin B.[3]
Emmonsiosis can be fatal.[3] The disseminated type is more prevalent in South Africa, particularly in people withHIV.[3]
Generally, all cases have involvement of the skin.[5] The lesions look like small redbumps and patches with adip,ulcer anddead tissue in the centre.[4] There may be several lesions and their distribution can be widespread.[1] The lungs may be affected.[3][4]
It is caused by theEmergomyces species, a novel dimorphic fungus, previously classified under the genusEmmonsia.[3][7] Following arevised taxonomy in 2017 based onDNA sequence analyses, five of theseEmmonsia-like fungi have been placed under the separate genusEmergomyces.[3] These includeEmergomyces pasteurianus,Emergomyces africanus,Emergomyces canadensis,Emergomyces orientalis andEmergomyces europaeus.[3][8]
Emergomyces africanus was previously known asEmmonsia africanus, which has similarfeatures toHistoplasma spp. and the family ofAjellomycetaceae.[6]
The disease has been observed among people who have aweakened immune system and risk factors includeHIV,organ transplant andsteroid use.[1][3]
The fungus is found in soil and is released in the air.[1] Transmission is bybreathing in fungal spores from the air.[1] Inside the body it converts to yeast-like cells which then cause disease and invade beyond the lungs.[1] In people with HIV, Emmonsiosis has been associated withImmune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome following initiatingantiretroviral treatment.[1]
Diagnosis is byskin biopsy and itsappearance under the microscope.[5]
Generally, it is difficult to distinguish from histoplasmosis.[6] Other conditions that appear similar includetuberculosis,[5]blastomycosis,sporotrichosis,chicken pox,Kaposi's sarcoma anddrug reactions.[4]
Treatment usually includesamphotericin B.[3]
It can be fatal.[5]
The disseminated type is more prevalent in South Africa, particularly in people with HIV.[5]
The disease was thought to be a rare condition of the lung.[2] Early cases may have been misdiagnosed as histoplasmosis.[6]
The genusEmmonsia can cause adiaspiromycosis, a lung disease in wild animals.[9]