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PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020 Jul 30;14(7):e0008420. Epub 2020 Jul 30.

Foundation Atlas of Clinical Fungi, Hilversum, The Netherlands.

Eumycetoma (mycotic mycetoma) is the fungal form of mycetoma, a subcutaneous infection occurring in individuals living in endemic areas of the disease. The Sudan is hyperendemic for mycetoma, with the highest incidence being reported from Gezira State, Central Sudan. The present study was conducted at the Gezira Mycetoma Center and aimed to determine the cause of black-grain eumycetoma in the state and describe its epidemiology. Read More

Pak J Biol Sci 2020 Jan;23(7):968-972

Background And Objective: Mycetoma of the foot, commonly referred to as Madura foot, is a chronic granulomatous infection, which impacts vascularization of the affected region. This study aimed to evaluate foot mycetoma using Doppler and sonography techniques to identify the principle sonographic features and blood flow patterns associated with the condition.

Materials And Methods: This was a cross-sectional prospective single-center study conducted at the Mycetoma Research Center (MCR) in Khartoum State, Sudan. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2020 Jul 11;20(1):499. Epub 2020 Jul 11.

Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.

Background: Streptomyces cacaoi, Gram-positive, branched, filamentous bacillus forms without fragmentation, are saprophytic soil organisms rarely known to cause invasive infections other than mycetoma. Here we describe a case of chronic suppurative otitis media caused by Streptomyces cacaoi in a patient with hyperlipidemia in China.

Case Presentation: A 62-year-old female patient with hyperlipidemia suffered chronic suppurative otitis media caused by Streptomyces cacaoi. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2020 Jul 6. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. Electronic address:

J Dermatolog Treat 2020 Jul 20:1-5. Epub 2020 Jul 20.

Microbiology Department, Facultad de Medicina y Hospital Universitario Dr. José Eleuterio González, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico.

Background: Actinomycetoma due to is susceptible to numerous chemotherapeutic agents, however, the response to those treatments is variable and closely related to several factors.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the clinical-therapeutic characteristics of patients with actinomycetoma due to with two treatment modalities.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of eighteen patients with a diagnosis of actinomycetoma. Read More

BMC Res Notes 2020 Jul 6;13(1):322. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Department of Histopathology and Cytology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.

Objectives: Infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori has been classified as class one carcinogen associated with increasing susceptibility of gastritis and gastric carcinoma. This study is aiming at investigating the prevalence of H. pylori among colon polyps and colon cancer patients. Read More

BMC Res Notes 2020 Jul 2;13(1):317. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

Objectives: IL-17A G197A and IL-17F A7488G polymorphisms has been identified to be associated with the susceptibility to many diseases. This study aimed to investigate the frequency distribution of IL-17A G197A and IL-17F A7488G polymorphisms among healthy Sudanese population. A descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based molecular study conducted in different sites throughout Sudan. Read More

J Infect Dev Ctries 2020 Jun 29;14(6.1):16S-21S. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.

Introduction: The majority of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) have established primary skin manifestations or associated clinical feature. Skin NTDs often result in physical impairment and disfigurement, which can lead to disability. Skin diseases have been proposed as an entry point for integrated NTDs control. Read More

JAAD Case Rep 2020 Jul 11;6(7):625-627. Epub 2020 May 11.

Department of Dermatology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida.

J Pathol Transl Med 2020 Jun 26. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Appendiceal actinomycosis is very rare and its diagnosis is often difficult even in surgically resected specimens. Here we report two cases of appendiceal actinomycosis confirmed by pathologic examination of surgically resected specimens. Characteristic histologic features included transmural chronic inflammation with Crohn-like lymphoid aggregates and polypoid mucosal protrusion into cecal lumen through fibrous expansion of the submucosa. Read More

BMC Res Notes 2020 Jun 23;13(1):300. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Department of Histopathology and Cytology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.

Objectives: IL17 is a critical pro-inflammatory cytokine that is involved in inflammation, multidrug resistance and growth persistence pathways in cancer. This study is aiming at studying the expression of IL17 and hormonal receptors expression in benign and malignant breast lesions using immunohistochemical staining methods.

Results: A total of 137 cases of breast lesions were studied, 97 (70. Read More

Mycopathologia 2020 Jun 19. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Parasitologie - Mycologie et Médecine Tropicale, Hôpital Bretonneau, CHU de Tours, 2 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37044, Tours, France.

Phaeohyphomycosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by dematiaceous fungi. It is characterized by the presence of pigmented septate mycelia within tissues. In the case of superficial infection, the lesion(s) chronically evolve(s) toward painless pseudo-tumor(s) of the soft parts. Read More

BMC Res Notes 2020 Jun 17;13(1):295. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Department of Cytology and Histopathology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.

Objectives: Prostate cancer (PC) is common cancer worldwide. Several markers have been developed to differentiate between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) from PC. A descriptive retrospective hospital-based study aimed at determining the expression of Cyclin D1 in BPH and PC. Read More

IDCases 2020 30;21:e00857. Epub 2020 May 30.

Department of Radiology, Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya, Sri Lanka.

Mycetoma is a progressive destructive disease causing severe disability, if untreated, in otherwise healthy people. Susceptible populations are usually adult males and disease is characterized by the triad of tumor formation, presence of grains and draining sinuses. Here, we report a case of mycetoma of a young female, manifested only as a painful swelling over left ankle which was initially suspected as a malignancy. Read More

IDCases 2020 30;21:e00853. Epub 2020 May 30.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Qatar.

Chromoblastomycosis is one of the neglected tropical mycoses associated with chronic infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. We report a case of 49-year-old patient originally from India presented with a mycetoma-like lesion in his right foot which was slowly progressing over three-year period. The diagnosis of chromoblastomycosis was confirmed following surgical excision and identification of the unique histological pathology of muriform bodies. Read More

Molecules 2020 Jun 2;25(11). Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Malaria Research Unit, University Lyon, ICBMS, UMR 5246 CNRS INSA CPE, Campus Lyon-Tech La Doua, F-69100 Lyon, France.

Background: Mycetoma and chromoblastomycosis are both chronic subcutaneous infectious diseases that pose an obstacle to socioeconomic development. Besides the therapeutic issue, the diagnosis of most neglected tropical diseases (NTD) is challenging. Confirmation using direct microscopy and culture, recognized as WHO essential diagnostic tests, are limited to specialized facilities. Read More

Am J Otolaryngol 2020 Jul - Aug;41(4):102541. Epub 2020 May 8.

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Rhinology and Skull Base Research Group, Applied Medical Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Background: Maxillary sinus fungal ball is a common cause of unilateral maxillary sinusitis. Fungal balls or mycetomas are primarily treated with surgery to remove the fungus. However, this assumes the pre-fungal ball sinus cavity was normal and post-surgery patients may suffer from mucostasis in the sinus cavity with persistent symptoms. Read More

Infect Disord Drug Targets 2020 May 16. Epub 2020 May 16.

Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh. India.

Background: Nocardia species are important cause of infections in humans but are underreported due to missed diagnosis as well as misdiagnosis. Majority of the literature on these infections consists of case reports or series with few articles describing high number of cases.

Objective: To study the epidemiology of Nocardia infections in a tertiary care center. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2020 May 15. Epub 2020 May 15.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a treatment of choice for fungal sinus ball (mycetoma), which is considered safe with a very low major complication rate. We present an unusual case of a 12-year-old female, who underwent FESS for a sphenoid sinus mycetoma and which was complicated by an acute, compressive epidural fluid collection. This presumably resulted from sinus irrigation in the setting of an under-appreciated skull base and mucosal defects causing a ball-valve effect. Read More

PLoS One 2020 8;15(5):e0232556. Epub 2020 May 8.

Servicio de Dermatología, Facultad de Medicina y Hospital Universitario, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico.

Background: Mycetoma is a chronic, granulomatous infection of subcutaneous tissue, that may involve deep structures and bone. It can be caused by bacteria (actinomycetoma) or fungi (eumycetoma). There is an epidemiological association between mycetoma and the environment, including rainfall, temperature and humidity but there are still many knowledge gaps in the identification of the natural habitat of actinomycetes, their primary reservoir, and their precise geographical distribution. Read More

J Mycol Med 2020 Jun 26;30(2):100953. Epub 2020 Mar 26.

Department of Medical Genetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Objective: The present study was designed to discover novel biomarkers involved in voriconazole resistance in clinical isolates of Aspergillus flavus.

Materials And Methods: Two voriconazole non-wild-type and two voriconazole-wild-type A. flavus clinical isolates were selected to evaluate possible molecular mechanism involved in A. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020 04 30;14(4):e0008053. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

The Mycetoma Research Centre, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.

Mycetoma is one of the badly neglected tropical diseases, characterised by subcutaneous painless swelling, multiple sinuses, and discharge containing aggregates of the infecting organism known as grains. Risk factors conferring susceptibility to mycetoma include environmental factors and pathogen factors such as virulence and the infecting dose, in addition to host factors such as immunological and genetic predisposition. Epidemiological evidence suggests that host genetic factors may regulate susceptibility to mycetoma and other fungal infections, but they are likely to be complex genetic traits in which multiple genes interact with each other and environmental factors, as well as the pathogen, to cause disease. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020 04 29;14(4):e0008240. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Department of Pathology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Mycetoma is considered a neglected tropical disease globally. However, data on its burden and the associated complications in Uganda are limited. Hence we aimed to estimate its burden in Uganda. Read More

PLoS One 2020 24;15(4):e0231871. Epub 2020 Apr 24.

Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de médecine, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal.

Mycetoma is a neglected tropical disease caused by various actinomycetes or fungi. The disease is characterized by the formation of tumor like-swellings and grains. Senegal is an endemic country where mycetoma cases are under-or misdiagnosed due to the lack of capacities and knowledge among health workers and the community; and where the management of eumycetoma, burdened by a high amputation rate, is currently inadequate. Read More

Oman Med J 2020 Mar 14;35(2):e111. Epub 2020 Apr 14.

Dermtology Department, Al Nahdha Hospital, Muscat, Oman.

Mycetoma, formerly known as Madura foot, is a chronic, localized, gradually increasing in size, granulomatous exogenous infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue with risks of bone and visceral involvement. It is unevenly found worldwide but it is endemic in tropical and subtropical countries. Two groups of mycetoma exist with similar clinical presentation; eumycetoma due to true fungi, and actinomycetoma due to aerobic bacteria from actinomycomycetes species. Read More

Microbiol Resour Announc 2020 Apr 16;9(16). Epub 2020 Apr 16.

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Khartoum University, Khartoum, Sudan.

The draft genomes of three fungal clinical isolates of from patients with mycetoma are presented. No finished genome is currently available for this important fungus. Therefore, the addition of these new draft genomes will help us better understand the diversity and pathogenicity of this important species. Read More

An Bras Dermatol 2020 May - Jun;95(3):372-375. Epub 2020 Mar 19.

Clinic of Dermatology, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address:

Pseudomycetoma is an extremely rare deep mycosis, caused by dermatophytic fungi that penetrate the tissue from infected follicles of tinea capitis. Both clinically and histopathology are similar to eumycetoma, being distinguished through the isolation of the fungus, which in the case of pseudomycetoma can be Microsporum spp. or Trichophyton spp. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020 04 8;14(4):e0008190. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Mycetoma is a neglected chronic and granulomatous infection primarily associated with the fungal pathogen Madurella mycetomatis. Characteristic of this infection is the formation of grains. However, the processes leading to grain formation are not known. Read More

Indian J Orthop 2020 Apr 10;54(2):224-227. Epub 2020 Feb 10.

3Division of Medical Mycology, Department of Microbiology, V.P. Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.

Mycetoma is a chronic, granulomatous infection mainly involving the foot and is caused either by bacteria (actinomycetoma) or fungi (eumycetoma). Eumycetoma is notoriously resistant, posing a therapeutic challenge. There are no specific treatment guidelines but generally a combination of systemic antifungals and local surgical treatment is the accepted standard. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2020 Aug 15;34(8):1828-1834. Epub 2020 May 15.

Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Background: At the dermatology service of the General Hospital of Mexico City, Mexico, two patients, father and son, with black-grain mycetoma were seen. The grains were isolated, and the cultured fungi were identified as Madurella mycetomatis based on morphology. Using the M. Read More

Respir Med 2020 04 19;164:105903. Epub 2020 Feb 19.

Department of Interventional Radiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Aspergilloma, also known as mycetoma or fungus ball, is the most common manifestation of pulmonary involvement by Aspergillus species. The fungal ball typically forms within preexisting cavities of the lungs. Diagnosis requires both radiographic evidence along with serologic or microbiologic evidence of Aspergillus species involvement. Read More

Acta Derm Venereol 2020 Apr 20;100(9):adv00113. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

The International Foundation for Dermatology, Willan House, 4 Fitzroy sqaure, London W1T 5HQ, United Kingdom.

Skin disease is a common illness in most tropical regions where the pattern of clinical, presentations is dominated by infections. Along with common diseases such as pyodermas and fungal infections, a group of conditions known collectively as the neglected tropical diseases of the skin or Skin NTDs, which are the targets for worldwide control or elimination are also seen in health care facilities. These diseases range from the common, such a scabies, to those that are less frequent including leprosy and mycetoma. Read More

New Microbes New Infect 2020 Mar 14;34:100658. Epub 2020 Feb 14.

Dermatology Department, University of French Guiana, Cayenne, French Guiana.

Bacteria of the genus are rarely involved in human infections. We report here the case of a 30-year-old man from Guinea Buissau with mycetoma of the foot. 16S DNA sequencing after surgical biopsy identified . Read More

J Dermatol 2020 May 15;47(5):542-545. Epub 2020 Mar 15.

Division of Dermatology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.

Botryomycosis is a rare chronic suppurative granulomatous infection caused by several genera of non-filamentous bacteria. The clinical and histopathological findings are similar to those of mycetoma caused by true fungi or aerobic actinomycetes. Botryomycosis is divided into cutaneous and visceral disease, with the cutaneous form being more common. Read More

Dermatol Online J 2020 Jan 15;26(1). Epub 2020 Jan 15.

Department of Dermatology, University General Hospital of Patras.

Acremonium is a large fungal genus that is comprised of approximately 150 species, found ubiquitously in nature. Although the majority are recognized as being saprophytes in soil and pathogens of plants, several species are emerging as causative agents of a variety of human infections, including mycetomas. Herein, we present a young man that was referred to our department with a painful subungual mass that developed following traumatic inoculation of Acremonium spp. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2019 26;34:163. Epub 2019 Nov 26.

Service de Dermatologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Hôpital de Référence de Talangaï, Brazzaville, Congo.

Mycetoma is a chronic inflammatory process during which exogenous fungal or actinomycosic agents produce grains. The infection involves the skin, the subcutaneous tissues, the muscles and the bones. We report the case of a 39-year old woman, a teacher, living in Brazzaville, who had regularly resided in the village. Read More

Radiol Case Rep 2020 May 22;15(5):467-473. Epub 2020 Feb 22.

Department of Radiology, Musculoskeletal Imaging Division, University of Washington, UW Radiology-Roosevelt Clinic, 4245 Roosevelt Way NE, Box 354755, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.

A 36-year-old Mexican female with a slowly growing foot mass was referred to orthopedic surgery clinic for further evaluation. Foot magnetic resonance imaging revealed an infiltrative soft tissue mass along the dorsal aspect of the fourth metatarsal. T2-weighted images revealed multiple central low-signal "dots" surrounded by areas of bright signal intensity, known as the "dot-in-circle" sign, which is highly specific for mycetoma. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020 02 25;14(2):e0008123. Epub 2020 Feb 25.

Servicio de Dermatología, Facultad de Medicina y Hospital Universitario "Dr. José Eleuterio González", Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, México.

Background: Mycetoma is a neglected tropical disease characterized by nodules, scars, abscesses, and fistulae that drain serous or purulent material containing the etiological agent. Mycetoma may be caused by true fungi (eumycetoma) or filamentous aerobic bacteria (actinomycetoma). Mycetoma is more frequent in the so-called mycetoma belt (latitude 15° south and 30° north around the Tropic of Cancer), especially in Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, India, Mexico, and Venezuela. Read More

Case Rep Emerg Med 2020 18;2020:3151036. Epub 2020 Jan 18.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Rowan University SOM/Jefferson-Stratford, Stratford, NJ, USA.

We describe a case of a 27-year-old female without any prior underlying immunodeficiency syndromes who presented with hemoptysis secondary to subacute invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and subsequently diagnosed with lymphoid interstitial pneumonia (LIP). CT chest demonstrated bilateral interstitial disease with patchy opacities and multiple large cysts and bullae. Diagnosis was confirmed histologically after surgical lung resection of the mycetoma containing cavitation. Read More

QJM 2020 Feb 20. Epub 2020 Feb 20.

Department of Medicine, PMMPHAMB Hospital, Jalan Sungai Basong, Tutong.

BMC Microbiol 2020 Feb 12;20(1):33. Epub 2020 Feb 12.

Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research GmbH - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120, Halle, Germany.

Background: Production of antibiotics to inhibit competitors affects soil microbial community composition and contributes to disease suppression. In this work, we characterized whether Streptomyces bacteria, prolific antibiotics producers, inhibit a soil borne human pathogenic microorganism, Streptomyces sudanensis. S. Read More

IDCases 2020 28;19:e00705. Epub 2020 Jan 28.

Department of Pathology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP) Medical School, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Bull Soc Pathol Exot 2019 ;112(4):195-201

Service orthopédie-traumatologie, Hôpital Aristide Le Dantec, Dakar, Sénégal.

The treatment of fungal mycetoma is essentially surgical. This carcinological-like surgery consists of amputation in case of bone involvement. The recurrences after amputation are rare and address the problem of the operative indication. Read More

Emerg Infect Dis 2020 02;26(2):379-380

Mycetoma is a chronic infection that is slow to develop and heal. It can be caused by fungi (eumycetoma) or bacteria (actinomycetoma). We describe a case of actinomycetoma caused by Actinomadura mexicana in the Caribbean region. Read More

J Korean Med Sci 2020 Jan 20;35(3):e22. Epub 2020 Jan 20.

Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Background: Central dark-signal intensity with high-signal, hypertrophic mucosal wall of paranasal sinuses on T2-weighted images (T2WI) is a characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) feature of sinonasal fungus ball. However, this finding is usually interpreted as non-fungal chronic sinusitis with central normal sinus air. In addition, T1-weighted images (T1WI) and T2WI are basic sequences of all magnetic resonance (MR) examinations. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020 01 15;14(1):e0007845. Epub 2020 Jan 15.

Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

The genus Madurella comprising four species, M. fahalii, M. mycetomatis, M. Read More

Int J Microbiol 2019 18;2019:6754058. Epub 2019 Dec 18.

Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHU Aristide Le Dantec, BP 5005, Dakar, Senegal.

Classically, dermatophytes are identified by phenotypic methods even if these methods, sometimes, remain difficult or uncertain. On the other hand, nucleotide sequence analysis of internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of rDNA has proved to be a useful method for identification of dermatophytes. The objective of this study was to compare the phenotypic method with DNA sequencing of the ITS regions for identification of dermatophyte species isolated in Dakar, Senegal. Read More

BMC Dermatol 2020 01 10;20(1). Epub 2020 Jan 10.

Dermatology and Venereology Department, Ibn Sina Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco.

Background: Mycetoma is an uncommon chronic granulomatous infection of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues that can be caused by filamentous bacteria (actinomycetoma) or fungi (eumycetoma). It is the prerogative of young men between the third and fourth decade and is transmitted through any trauma causing an inoculating point. The classic clinical triad associates a painless hard and swelling subcutaneous mass, multiple fistulas, and the pathognomonic discharge of grains. Read More

J Antimicrob Chemother 2020 Apr;75(4):936-941

Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Objectives: Eumycetoma is currently treated with a combination of itraconazole therapy and surgery, with limited success. Recently, olorofim, the lead candidate of the orotomides, a novel class of antifungal agents, entered a Phase II trial for the treatment of invasive fungal infections. Here we determined the activity of olorofim against Madurella mycetomatis, the main causative agent of eumycetoma. Read More

Med J Aust 2020 02 24;212(3):107-107.e1. Epub 2019 Dec 24.

Peninsula Health, Melbourne, VIC.