Objectives: The aim of this study was to clarify the contentious taxonomic classification of Rhinosporidium seeberi, the cause of human rhinosporidiosis, which may have treatment implications.
Methods: PCR was used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-2 region from the genomic DNA of the aetiological agent obtained from a sample of human rhinosporidiosis lesions. The amplicon was sequenced and the organism identified using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tools (BLAST).
Results: Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the aetiological agent clustered along with the R. seeberi isolated from humans and also with Amphibiocystidium ranae from frogs. This organism is a member of the order Dermocystida in the class Mesomycetozoea. A patient with disseminated rhinosporidiosis did not respond to conventional therapy with dapsone and surgical excision, and treatment with amphotericin B also proved futile.
Conclusion: An effective treatment for R. seeberi-a eukaryote belonging to the class Mesomycetozoea-is still elusive.
Keywords: Amphotericin B; Mesomycetozoea; Rhinosporidiosis; Rhinosporidium seeberi.
Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.