Human Disseminated Protothecosis: The Skin is the "Window"?

Human disseminated protothecosis is a rare infection caused by members of the genus , an achlorophyllic algae always associated with debilitated hosts. The presence of non-budding cells and large, spherical cells (sporangia) with endosporulation (morula) in histology is proof of infection. Regrettab...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in immunology 2022-06, Vol.13, p.880196-880196
Main Authors: Wang, Xue, Ran, Yuanshuai, Jia, Songgan, Ahmed, Sarah, Long, Xuemei, Jiang, Yinhui, Jiang, Yanping
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
diagnostic errors
Humans
Immunology
immunosuppression
Infections - etiology
Prototheca
Skin - pathology
skin diseases
Skin Diseases, Infectious - complications
Skin Diseases, Infectious - diagnosis
Skin Diseases, Infectious - pathology
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Summary:Human disseminated protothecosis is a rare infection caused by members of the genus , an achlorophyllic algae always associated with debilitated hosts. The presence of non-budding cells and large, spherical cells (sporangia) with endosporulation (morula) in histology is proof of infection. Regrettably, due to the lack of specificity of clinical features and low awareness among clinicians, protothecosis is always underestimated and misdiagnosed. The available data on a species-specific analysis of this infection are limited. In this review, we summarize the etiological, epidemiological, and clinical aspects of disseminated protothecosis. The potential pathogenicity and clinical differences between and were observed. Additionally, the skin not only became the main invasion site but also the most involved organ by the pathogen. With the increasing numbers of immunocompromised individuals throughout the world, the incidence of disseminated infection caused by is bound to increase, and disseminated protothecosis that accompanies skin symptoms should be taken into account by clinicians.
ISSN:1664-3224
1664-3224
DOI:10.3389/fimmu.2022.880196