Emergomycosis in Africa: Time to Pay Attention to This Emerging Deadly Fungal Infection
Chibuike Ibe,1 Nicholaus P Mnyambwa,2,3 Sayoki G Mfinanga2 1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria; 2National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Research Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; 3Alliance for Africa Health and Research (A4A),...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2023-06-01
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Series: | International Journal of General Medicine |
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Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/emergomycosis-in-africa-time-to-pay-attention-to-this-emerging-deadly--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJGM |
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author | Ibe C Mnyambwa NP Mfinanga SG |
author_facet | Ibe C Mnyambwa NP Mfinanga SG |
author_sort | Ibe C |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Chibuike Ibe,1 Nicholaus P Mnyambwa,2,3 Sayoki G Mfinanga2 1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria; 2National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Research Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; 3Alliance for Africa Health and Research (A4A), Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaCorrespondence: Chibuike Ibe, Email c.ibe@abiaistateuniversity.edu.ngAbstract: Emergomycosis is an emerging deadly infectious disease caused primarily by a little-known airborne pathogen Emergomyces africanus, which can cause clinical management challenge especially in patients with advanced HIV disease. This minireview describes Es. africanus as the main cause of emergomycosis in Africa as well as considers contributing factors to the difficulties encountered in managing this infection. Emergomycosis is common in HIV-positive persons with low CD4 lymphocyte count and has an estimated fatality of 50%. The infection exhibits airborne transmission with pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations leading to skin lesions. However, the pathogenesis of Es. africanus is still poorly understood. The management of the infection is complicated due to lack of defined diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines. Limited expertise, poor research funding, and lack of awareness and national surveillance are thought to impact the recognition and prioritisation of the infection. These factors may ultimately assign emergomycosis a ‘neglected infection status’ even as it is suspected to be prevalent in more African countries than previously recognised. Increased awareness and integrated and targeted strategies such as mobilising manpower in clinical mycology are of paramount importance in managing emergomycosis in Africa and beyond.Keywords: emergomycosis, Es. africanus, epidemiology, pathogenesis, HIV |
first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:49:40Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-80d6fcafde9d436d98d7d87215108a75 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1178-7074 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:49:40Z |
publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
publisher | Dove Medical Press |
record_format | Article |
series | International Journal of General Medicine |
spelling | doaj.art-80d6fcafde9d436d98d7d87215108a752023-07-02T19:49:18ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of General Medicine1178-70742023-06-01Volume 162313232284287Emergomycosis in Africa: Time to Pay Attention to This Emerging Deadly Fungal InfectionIbe CMnyambwa NPMfinanga SGChibuike Ibe,1 Nicholaus P Mnyambwa,2,3 Sayoki G Mfinanga2 1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria; 2National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Research Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; 3Alliance for Africa Health and Research (A4A), Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaCorrespondence: Chibuike Ibe, Email c.ibe@abiaistateuniversity.edu.ngAbstract: Emergomycosis is an emerging deadly infectious disease caused primarily by a little-known airborne pathogen Emergomyces africanus, which can cause clinical management challenge especially in patients with advanced HIV disease. This minireview describes Es. africanus as the main cause of emergomycosis in Africa as well as considers contributing factors to the difficulties encountered in managing this infection. Emergomycosis is common in HIV-positive persons with low CD4 lymphocyte count and has an estimated fatality of 50%. The infection exhibits airborne transmission with pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations leading to skin lesions. However, the pathogenesis of Es. africanus is still poorly understood. The management of the infection is complicated due to lack of defined diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines. Limited expertise, poor research funding, and lack of awareness and national surveillance are thought to impact the recognition and prioritisation of the infection. These factors may ultimately assign emergomycosis a ‘neglected infection status’ even as it is suspected to be prevalent in more African countries than previously recognised. Increased awareness and integrated and targeted strategies such as mobilising manpower in clinical mycology are of paramount importance in managing emergomycosis in Africa and beyond.Keywords: emergomycosis, Es. africanus, epidemiology, pathogenesis, HIVhttps://www.dovepress.com/emergomycosis-in-africa-time-to-pay-attention-to-this-emerging-deadly--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJGMemergomycosises africanusepidemiologypathogenesishiv |
spellingShingle | Ibe C Mnyambwa NP Mfinanga SG Emergomycosis in Africa: Time to Pay Attention to This Emerging Deadly Fungal Infection International Journal of General Medicine emergomycosis es africanus epidemiology pathogenesis hiv |
title | Emergomycosis in Africa: Time to Pay Attention to This Emerging Deadly Fungal Infection |
title_full | Emergomycosis in Africa: Time to Pay Attention to This Emerging Deadly Fungal Infection |
title_fullStr | Emergomycosis in Africa: Time to Pay Attention to This Emerging Deadly Fungal Infection |
title_full_unstemmed | Emergomycosis in Africa: Time to Pay Attention to This Emerging Deadly Fungal Infection |
title_short | Emergomycosis in Africa: Time to Pay Attention to This Emerging Deadly Fungal Infection |
title_sort | emergomycosis in africa time to pay attention to this emerging deadly fungal infection |
topic | emergomycosis es africanus epidemiology pathogenesis hiv |
url | https://www.dovepress.com/emergomycosis-in-africa-time-to-pay-attention-to-this-emerging-deadly--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJGM |
work_keys_str_mv | AT ibec emergomycosisinafricatimetopayattentiontothisemergingdeadlyfungalinfection AT mnyambwanp emergomycosisinafricatimetopayattentiontothisemergingdeadlyfungalinfection AT mfinangasg emergomycosisinafricatimetopayattentiontothisemergingdeadlyfungalinfection |