Paracoccidioidomycosis: characteristic of ethiological agents, epidemiology, clinical forms and laboratory diagnostics

Lipnitsky A.V., Murugova A.A., Polovets N.V., Toporkov A.V.

Volgograd Plague Control Research Institute of Federal Service for Surveillance in the Sphere of Consumers Rights Protection and Humane Welfare, Volgograd, Russia

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), formerly known as South American blastomycosis, is endemic in Central and South America. Most cases of PCM have been reported in Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and Argentina. The etiologic agents of the disease are heat-dependent dimorphic fungi of the species P. brasiliensis, P. lutzii, P. americana, P. restripiensis and P. venezuelensis. The disease is caused by inhalation of infectious fungal particles from the soil. The incubation (latent) period of paracoccidioidomycosis varies considerably, lasting from one month to decades. The group at increased risk of morbidity consists of people living in endemic areas for Paracoccidioides counryside and tourists who have visited these areas. In most cases, adults have a chronic form of the disease with manifistation over many months. Differential diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis is difficult due to the similar symptoms a number of infections (tuberculosis, bacterial and viral pneumoniae, leishmaniasis etc.) and non-infectious diseases (neoplasic of various localizations, Crohn's disease, etc.). Laboratory diagnostics include mycological examination and microscopy, serological tests for at identification of specific antibodies or antigens, as well as molecular genetic methods.