Emergomycosis (Emergomyces africanus) in Advanced HIV Disease

• Main Authors: Nelesh P. Govender, Wayne Grayson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-06-01
• Series: Dermatopathology
• Subjects: Emergomyces africanus; Emergomycosis; Emmonsia; Deep fungal infection; Advanced HIV
• Online Access: https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/495405

In 2013, a novel thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen was described to cause disseminated disease among persons living with advanced HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Although the organism was initially described as an Emmonsia-like fungus, it is now known to belong to a new genus of thermally dimorphic fungi and was recently named Emergomyces africanus. There is considerable clinical and histopathological overlap between emergomycosis and histoplasmosis. This review addresses taxonomic, clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of Es. africanus disease, a condition which has, to date, only been reported from southern Africa.