Ann Dermatol.  2011 Aug;23(3):369-374. 10.5021/ad.2011.23.3.369.

Chromoblastomycosis Caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi

• Kim DM
• Hwang SM
• Suh MK
• Ha GY
• Choi GS
• Shin J
• Han SH

• KMID: 2171932
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2011.23.3.369

Abstract

We report herein a case of chromoblastomycosis caused by Fonsecaea (F.) pedrosoi in a 39-year-old male, who showed multiple, asymptomatic, scaly erythematous plaques on the left shin for 12 months. Histopathologically, chronic granulomatous inflammation and either sclerotic or muriform cells were observed. The fungal culture produced typical black colonies of F. pedrosoi. The DNA sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the clinical sample was 100% match to that of F. pedrosoi IFM 47061 (GenBank accession number AB240943). The patient was treated with 200 mg of itraconazole daily, for 3 months. Skin lesions were improved. In Korea, only 9 cases of chromoblastomycosis, including this case, have been reported until now. The etiologic agent was F. pedrosoi in the majority of cases (6/9;67%). The incidence of chromoblastomycosis was slightly higher in female, and the upper limbs were more affected than the lower limbs in patients.

Keyword

Chromoblastomycosis; Fonsecaea pedrosoi

MeSH Terms

Adult
Base Sequence
Chromoblastomycosis
Female
Humans
Incidence
Inflammation
Itraconazole
Korea
Lower Extremity
Male
Skin
Upper Extremity
Itraconazole

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Multiple, scaly erythematous plaques, with ulcers and erosions on the left shin.

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  Fig. 2 Close-up view of the left shin.

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  Fig. 3 Slow growing, dark brown, velvety colonies on the Sabouraud's dextrose agar slants cultured for 2 weeks, at 25℃.

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  Fig. 4 Slow growing, dark brown, mildly heaped, velvety colony on the Sabouraud's dextrose agar cultured for 4 weeks, at 25℃.

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  Fig. 5 Elliptical, brownish conidia from conidophore were seen in the slide culture of F. pedrosoi (Lactophenol-cotton blue stain, ×400).

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  Fig. 6 The biopsy specimen showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and chronic granulomatous inflammation (H&E, ×40).

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  Fig. 7 Large, dark brown, septate cells, i.e, "sclerotic or muriform cells", in the upper dermis (H&E, ×400).

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  Fig. 8 Alignment of ITS sequences of the sample from the patient and F. pedrosoi IFM47061 (GenBank accession number AB240943). The sequences of ITS of the clinical samples were 100% match to that of F. pedrosoi IFM 47061 (GenBank accession number AB240943). ITS: internal transcribed spacer.

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