African Histoplasmosis in HIV-Negative Patients, Kimpese, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 Nov;24(11):2068-2070. doi: 10.3201/eid2411.180236.

Abstract

We describe a case series of histoplasmosis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii during July 2011-January 2014 in Kimpese, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cases were confirmed by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcription PCR. All patients were HIV negative. Putative sources for the pathogen were cellar bats and guano fertilizer exploitation.

Keywords: African histoplasmosis; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii; Kimpese; fungi; histoplasmosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Histoplasma / genetics
  • Histoplasma / isolation & purification*
  • Histoplasmosis / epidemiology*
  • Histoplasmosis / microbiology
  • Histoplasmosis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Young Adult