Another Kind of Blastomycosis

Cases of infection due to Blastomyces helicus were found in the U.S. and Canada.

Blastomycosis is usually caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis and occurs in the eastern portion of North America. Blastomyces helicus was first described in 1970 from a patient in Alberta, Canada, with fungal encephalitis who was diagnosed with blastomycosis, and the pathogen was initially placed in the genus Emmonsia. After nine isolates of B. helicus were identified from a fungal collection at the University of Alberta, a search for additional isolates was undertaken at the Fungus Testing Laboratory at the University of Texas Health San Antonio from 2001 to 2017 and at the Associated Regional and University Pathologists Laboratories at the University of Utah since 2008.

The investigators found 10 human and five veterinary cases of B. helices…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Another Kind of Blastomycosis

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Reviewing Author