Clinical Characteristics of HIV-Associated Talaromyces marneffei Infection of Intestine in Southern China

Abstract

Intestinal Talaromyces marneffei (TM) infection among patients with HIV/AIDS is rare. Herein, we report 31 cases of intestinal TM infection in Guangxi. Most patients exhibited fever, lymphadenectasis in the abdominal cavity, and chronic intestinal symptoms. CD4⁺ T-cell counts <50 cells/μL were reported in 28 patients. TM was cultured from the blood of 23 patients and from the marrow of 7 patients, whereas TM-like fungal spores in the cytoplasm of tissues with erosion, ulceration, and/or polyps were found in all 31 patients. We suggest that intestinal TM infection should be considered among patients infected with HIV with extremely low CD4⁺ T-cell counts (<50 cells/μL) who are manifesting fever, chronic gastrointestinal symptoms, and endoscopic evidence of erosion and/or ulceration.

Keywords: AIDS; HIV; Intestinal; Talaromyces marneffei; Talaromycosis.