Paracoccidioidomycosis

Excerpt

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic fungal infection caused by a dimorphic fungus endemic to the Americas, found from Mexico to Argentina, with the highest incidence in Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia. PCM is the most frequent systemic, endemic mycosis in this region and was first recognized by Adolfo Lutz in Brazil in 1908. Later, Splendore described the morphology of the fungus and described four clinical cases. In 1930 Floriano Paulo de Almeida named the causing agent Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis. This disease is caused by a thermally dimorphic fungus from the genus Paracoccidioides. PCM can also be caused by other species of this genus, including P. americana, P. restrepiensis, P. venezuelensis, and P. lutzii. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Paracoccidioides lutzii are considered the primary pathogens given the high rate of isolation of these strains.