Colonic Basidiobolomycosis—An Unusual Presentation of Eosinophilic Intestinal Inflammation
Elena Kurteva, Alasdair Bamford, Kate Cross, Tom A. Watson, Cátherine M. Owens, Fanlek Cheng, John C. Hartley, Kathryn Harris, Elizabeth M. Johnson, Keith Lindley, Samantha Levine, Jutta Köglmeier
Abstract
Basidiobolomycosis is a rare fungal disease caused by Basidiobolus ranarum. Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is unusual and poses both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, as clinical signs are nonspecific and predisposing risk factors are lacking. It can mimick inflammatory bowel disease, primary immunodeficiency or a malignancy and should be considered in patients who do not respond to standard therapy. We present the case of a twenty two month old boy with confirmed colonic Basidiobolomycosis, who presented with severe eosinophilic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Panfungal PCR performed on DNA extracted directly from a tissue sample confirmed the presence of Basidiobolus. He made a full recovery with a combination of surgery and prolonged targeted antifungal medication.