Severe skin and subcutaneous pythiosis in China: Metagenomic identification and characterization of Pythium insidiosum.

ABSTRACT: Pythium insidiosum is a rare fungus-like pathogen that is known to cause pythiosis in mammals with high morbidity and mortality. Identification of the pathogen is essential for timely treatment and rational use of antibiotics. However, Pythium insidiosum is difficult to detect via conventional microbiological tests. The current gold standard is polymerase chain reaction, which is lacking in most hospitals since human pythiosis is rare in China. In this study, we used metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing and identified Pythium insidiosum in a 56-year-old Chinese male who was hospitalized due to severe edema in the right lower limb with scattered darkening indurations. The patient had a history of cirrhosis and occupational exposure to swamp water. Serological l

SUBMITTER: Zhang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9561815 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature