Basidiobolomycosis
| Basidiobolomycosis | |
|---|---|
| Basidiobolus ranarum: causative organism | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease |
| Symptoms | Firm painless nodule in skin, tummy upset |
| Complications | Spread to local structures |
| Usual onset | Gradual/slow |
| Causes | B. ranarum |
| Diagnostic method | Medical imaging, biopsy, microscopy, culture, histopathology |
| Differential diagnosis | Inflammatory bowel disease |
| Treatment | Antifungals, surgery |
| Medication | Amphotericin B |
| Frequency | Rare |
Basidiobolomycosis is a fungal disease caused by Basidiobolus ranarum. It may appear as one or more painless firm nodules in the skin which becomes purplish with an edge that appears to be slowly growing outwards. A serious but less common type affects the stomach and intestine, which usually presents with abdominal pain, fever and a mass.
B. ranarum, can be found in soil, decaying vegetables and has been isolated from insects, some reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. The disease results from direct entry of the fungus through broken skin such as an insect bite or trauma, or eating contaminated food. It generally affects people who are well.
Diagnosis is by medical imaging, biopsy, microscopy, culture and histopathology. Treatment usually involves amphotericin B and surgery.
Although B. ranarum is found around the world, the disease Basidiobolomycosis is generally reported in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, South America, Asia and Southwestern United States. It is rare. The first case in a human was reported from Indonesia in 1956 as a skin infection.