Penicillium marneffei Infection: An Emerging Disease in Mainland China

Penicillium marneffei is an emerging pathogenic fungus that can cause a life-threatening systemic mycosis in immunocompromised hosts, especially in patients with AIDS. This infection is endemic in Southeast Asia. With the prevalence of AIDS in this area, the number of patients with systemic penicilliosis marneffei is found to be increasing rapidly in mainland China in recent years. We recently reviewed 668 cases of penicilliosis marneffei in mainland China from January 1984 to December 2009 in cnki, cqvip, CBMdisc and PubMed. We analyzed epidemiological and clinical features, laboratory findings, reaction to therapy and prognosis of the disease. We found that 99.4 % of the cases were reported in the southern part of China; among these cases, 42.8 % were from Guangxi (286 cases) and 40.6 % were from Guangdong province (271 cases). Five hundred and eighty-six cases (87.7 %) of penicilliosis marneffei were reported with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus, 25 cases (3.8 %) with other immunocompromised diseases, and 57 cases (8.5 %) without any documented underlying diseases. Fever, weight loss, anemia, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, respiratory signs and skin lesions were the common clinical manifestations of P. marneffei infections. The 569 cases received antifungal therapy with a mortality of 24.3 % (138 cases), 99 cases who had not received antifungal therapy had a mortality of 50.6 %. P. marneffei was an emerging pathogenic fungus and become a medical and public health importance in mainland China. The immunocompromised patients should pay more attention to P. marneffei infection in the endemic areas.     

艾滋病并发马尔尼菲青霉败血症1例

目的：报道1例马尔尼菲青霉败血症。方法患者男性,39岁,主因“发热伴淋巴结肿大1个月”就诊。进行骨髓瑞士染色、血液接种于有氧及厌氧培养瓶、沙氏培养基培养等检查,并对培养物进行形态学及 rDNA 序列鉴定。结果骨髓涂片见细胞内分隔孢子,3种培养方法均见真菌生长。沙氏培养基上菌落为丝状菌,表面为黄绿色粉末状,背面为红色;脑心浸汁培养基为酵母样菌落,37℃培养受限制。经 DNA 序列分析,与马尔尼菲青霉相似性在100℅,鉴定为马尔尼菲青霉。患者诊断为艾滋病并马尔尼菲青霉败血症,立即给予氟康唑治疗,转入传染病医院后因极度衰弱死亡。结论败血症可作为马尔尼菲青霉病首发症状,临床应予以重视;患者血液极具传染性,应注意隔离;对于有冶游史的不明原因发热患者,注意考虑本病可能,必要时行血液培养及 HIV 检测。     

AIDS合并马尔尼菲青霉病36例分析

目的探讨艾滋病合并马尔尼菲青霉病的临床表现,治疗与转归。方法回顾分析本院2008年8月～2009年8月收治的艾滋病合并马尔尼菲青霉36例。结果 36例艾滋病合并马尔尼菲青霉病平均年龄35.8岁。马尔尼菲青霉感染临床表现呈现非特异性,其中发热86.11%,贫血94.44%,GGT升高69.44%,AST升高63.89%,淋巴结肿大88.89%,脾大63.89%,低蛋白血症83.33%,咳嗽36.11%,皮损30.56%(其中典型改变仅5例,占13.89%),CD4+50cells/mm388.89%,骨髓培养(27/27)及皮损活检培养(2/2)阳性率100%,血液培养阳性率69.44%(25/36)。36例经抗真菌治疗,其中29例给予HAART治疗,28例治愈,7例好转,1例死亡。结论马尔尼菲青霉是艾滋病常见的机会性感染,早发现,早治疗,长程敏感抗真菌药物联合治疗可提高治愈率,减少复发。     

马尔尼菲青霉病8例临床分析

目的分析总结马尔尼菲青霉病的临床及实验室特征。方法以回顾性分析的方法 ,对我科2003～2009年期间诊治的8名明确诊断为马尔尼菲青霉感染患者的临床特征、皮损组织病理学特点及其皮损组织、骨髓或咽拭子等进行真菌培养的菌落及真菌形态等实验室检查结果进行分析。结果①马尔尼菲青霉感染多发生于HIV感染患者或AIDS患者。②皮损可与全身症状同时或先后出现,皮损表现为淡红色丘疱疹、坏死性丘疹、传染性软疣样丘疹、皮肤溃疡及血痂。③多伴有多系统损害。④37℃培养呈酵母相,25℃呈菌丝相,皮损组织病理可以看到典型的"桑葚样"改变。结论马尔尼菲青霉感染好发于HIV感染患者或其他免疫功能低下的患者,常表现为特征性皮疹,皮损组织、骨髓或分泌物于25℃、37℃真菌培养结合皮肤病理是明确诊断的关键。     

Imported penicilliosis marneffei in the United States: report of a second human infection

The first natural infection due to Penicillium marneffei in a human was reported in the United States in 1973. We describe a second case of penicilliosis marneffei that was diagnosed in Florida. In both instances, the patients had a history of travel in Southeast Asia where P. marneffei is endemic. The Florida patient had recurrent episodes of hemoptysis attributed to bronchitis and bronchiectasis. In spite of therapy with various antibacterial antibiotics for tuberculosis, the granulomatous lesions in the left upper lobe of the lungs persisted. The diagnosis of penicilliosis marneffei was established by isolating and identifying the dimorphic species of Penicillium, P. marneffei. The histopathologic features of the lung tissue included granulomata with central areas of necrosis and neutrophilic infiltration with many yeast-like, tissue-form cells of P. marneffei, which multiplied by a fission rather than a budding process.     

艾滋病合并马尔尼菲青霉病死亡的危险因素研究

目的:探讨艾滋病(AIDS)合并马尔尼菲青霉病(Penicilliosis marneffei,PSM)导致死亡的危险因素,从而减少死亡风险,改善预后.方法:选取我院2007-2010年期间101例AIDS合并PSM住院患者,根据其预后情况分为死亡组和存活组,比较两组年龄、性别、病程、发热、脐凹皮疹、腹痛、呼吸困难、消化道出血、腹膜刺激征、合并细菌性败血症、白细胞计数、血色素、血小板、血肌酐、丙氨酸转氨酶、门冬氨酸转氨酶、总胆红素、cD4+T淋巴细胞绝对计数、甘油三酯、真菌培养阳性报告时间、开始有效抗真菌治疗的时间、抗真菌治疗方案、是否HAART(高效抗逆转录病毒治疗)情况,进行统计学分析.结果:两组在腹痛、呼吸困难、消化道出血、腹膜刺激征、细菌性败血症、白细胞计数、血肌酐、总胆红素、门冬氨酸转氨酶、CD4+T淋巴细胞计数、甘油三酯、真菌培养阳性报告时间等因素的差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),多元逻辑回归显示,腹膜刺激征(OR=226.733)、呼吸困难(OR=90.213)、白细胞升高(OR=2.216)、血肌酐升高(OR=1.014)是AIDS合并PSM死亡的主要危险因素.结论:腹膜刺激征、呼吸困难、白细胞升高、肌酐升高是AIDS合并PSM死亡的主要危险因素,重视合并症治疗可能会降低死亡率.     

非人类免疫缺陷病毒感染马尔尼菲青霉病9例临床特征分析及文献复习

为探讨和总结非人类免疫缺陷病毒(human immunodeficiency virus,HIV)感染者发生马尔尼菲青霉病的临床特点,回顾性研究复旦大学附属华山医院感染科2007年1月-2017年8月收治的9例及同期发表文献中的马尔尼菲青霉病病例,分析其临床表现、实验室检查、治疗及转归。9例马尔尼菲青霉病患者的HIV检测均为阴性,5例CD4^＋ T细胞计数正常。非HIV感染马尔尼菲青霉病的起病较缓,临床表现与经典马尔尼菲青霉病类似,真菌血症较少见,病理特点以肉芽肿改变及化脓性炎症为主,诊断方法仍以培养为主(8/9),1例通过病理及二代测序技术诊断。目前,非HIV感染马尔尼菲青霉病发病率有升高趋势,部分发生于免疫正常人群,需引起临床医师的重视。     

Penicillium marneffei-stimulated dendritic cells enhance HIV-1 trans-infection and promote viral infection by activating primary CD4+ T cells

Penicillium marneffei (P. marneffei) is considered an indicator pathogen of AIDS, and the endemicity and clinical features of P. marneffei have been described. While, how the co-infection of P. marneffei exacerbate deterioration of the immune response remains poorly understood. Here we isolated P. marneffei from the cutaneous lesions of AIDS patients and analyzed its effects on HIV-1-dendritic cells (DCs) interaction. We demonstrated that the monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) could be activated by both thermally dimorphic forms of P. marneffei for significantly promoting HIV-1 trans-infection of CD4(+) T cells, while these activated MDDCs were refractory to HIV-1 infection. Mechanistically, P. marneffei-activated MDDCs endocytosed large amounts of HIV-1 and sequestrated the internalized viruses into tetrapasnin CD81(+) compartments potentially for proteolysis escaping. The activated MDDCs increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and facilitated the formation of DC-T-cell conjunctions, where much more viruses were recruited. Moreover, we found that P. marneffei-stimulated MDDCs efficiently activated resting CD4(+) T cells and induced more susceptible targets for viral infection. Our findings demonstrate that DC function and its interaction with HIV-1 have been modulated by opportunistic pathogens such as P. marneffei for viral dissemination and infection amplification, highlighting the importance of understanding DC-HIV-1 interaction for viral immunopathogenesis elucidation.     

艾滋病合并咽喉马尔尼菲青霉菌病的研究

目的研究艾滋病(AIDS)患者合并咽喉马尔尼菲青霉菌病(Penicilliosis marneffei,PSM)的咽喉表现和诊疗方法。方法收集2002年5月~2007年3月,经真菌学、血清学和组织病理学证实的5例AIDS合并咽喉PSM患者。应用抗逆转录病毒药物治疗AIDS,用两性霉素B联合氟康唑静滴治疗PSM。结果咽痛、声嘶及粘膜溃疡是AIDS合并PSM的咽喉部症状体征。5例病变组织病理学检查发现细胞内PM菌体。真菌培养分离出双相性马尔尼菲青霉菌(Penicillium marneffei,PM)。经抗真菌治疗,2例体温下降,咽喉疼痛减轻,声嘶改善,扁桃体炎症消退,溃疡面缩小,全身症状减轻。最终4例机会性感染死亡,1例仍在随访中。结论AIDS合并咽喉PSM是根据病史、临床表现和实验检查三方面作出诊断;HIV/AIDS用抗逆转录酶病毒治疗,PM用两性霉素B联合氟康唑静滴治疗。     

Talaromyces marneffei Outside Endemic Areas in India: an Emerging Infection with Atypical Clinical Presentations and Review of Published Reports from India

Mycopathologia - Talaromycosis is a disseminated disease caused by Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei, mainly seen in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Its distribution is...     

Identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium marneffei</Emphasis> in Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Using Nested PCR

Penicillium marneffei is one of the unique thermally dimorphic fungi in Penicillium species that causes a disseminated, progressive and life threatening infection in immunocompromised patients. The diagnosis of Penicilliosis marneffei depends on culture that may delay the treatment due to the time-consuming process. In the present study, we evaluated the specificity and sensitivity of nested PCR to identify Penicillium marneffei from paraffin-embedded tissue. Two sets of oligonucleotide primers were derived from the sequence of 18S rRNA of Penicillium marneffei. The outer primers (RRF1 and RRH1) were specific to fungi. The inner primers (Pm1 and Pm2) were specific to Penicillium marneffei. The specific fragment of approximately 400 bp was amplified from all paraffin-embedded tissues from 14 patients with Penicilliosis marneffei and 10 bamboo rats. The detectable DNA concentration of single PCR and nested PCR were 14 pg/μl and 14 fg/μl, respectively. Further studies are required in order to use nested PCR for early diagnosis of the disease.     

Retrospective Analysis of 15 Cases of Penicilliosis marneffei in a Southern China Hospital

We retrospectively analyzed the medical records and clinical characteristics of 15 patients diagnosed with Penicilliosis marneffei (PSM) between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 2012, at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. The most common symptoms of PSM were fever (14/15, 93 %), cough (13/15, 87 %), and sputum production (6/15, 40 %), weight loss (14/15, 60 %), lymph node enlargement (9/15, 60 %), hepatosplenomegaly (7/15, 47 %), anemia (7/15, 47 %), and hemoptysis (4/15, 26 %). The most common underlying diseases in patients diagnosed with PSM were AIDS (9/15, 60 %), post-organ transplantation (3/15, 20 %), rheumatic autoimmune disease (2/15, 13 %), and hematological malignancy (1/15, 7 %). All patients, except those with AIDS, were treated with immunosuppressant drugs. White blood cell counts were increased in 10/15 (67 %) patients, while hemoglobin concentrations were decreased in 8/15 (53 %) patients. The ratios of CD4⁺/total T lymphocytes and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T lymphocytes declined in all the 11 test cases. Nodular lesions or masses were the most common anomalies detected during computed tomography scans, but disseminated inflammation and interstitial changes were also seen. Clinical samples with positive culture results were obtained from sputum or secretions obtained by bronchoscopy, venous blood, percutaneous pulmonary puncture, bone marrow, or skin lesions. Between 1993 and 2003, only four cases of PSM, all connected with AIDS, were diagnosed, while 11 cases of PSM, with or without concurrent AIDS, were diagnosed between 2003 and 2012. Amphotericin B was used to control the disease in some cases. In conclusion, the occurrence of PSM, especially in patients without concurrent AIDS, has increased. The early culture of Penicillium marneffei from clinical samples is critical for correct diagnosis of PSM, and amphotericin B is recommended as the first choice for treatment.     

RNA干扰Fus3基因对二态性真菌马尔尼菲青霉菌的孢子形成和细胞壁组分合成功能的影响

马尔尼菲青霉菌Penicillium marneffei是一种重要的条件致病真菌,可致艾滋病患者产生严重的系统性霉菌病并发症。基因组学的研究和RNA干扰技术,为马尔尼菲青霉菌致病基因和致病机制的深入探讨提供了可能。我们研究马尔尼菲青霉菌的一个新基因Fus3,它是丝氨酸/苏氨酸-特异性激酶丝裂原活化蛋白激酶家族的成员。为了研究Fus3的功能,我们利用根癌农杆菌介导的双链RNA干扰技术构建了Fus3 RNA干扰菌株(Fus3-i)。RNA干扰的活性是由木糖诱导的启动子xylP控制的。Fus3基因活性下降后影响了马尔尼菲青霉菌生长,包括孢子的生成,细胞壁组分的合成。实验表明,Fus3基因对于马尔尼菲青霉菌细胞生长发育起着重要的调控作用,为研究真菌疾病提供了帮助。     

Isolation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium marneffei</Emphasis> From Soil and Wild Rodents in Guangdong,SE China

Infection by Penicillium marneffei is an important emerging public health problem, especially among travelers and inhabitants in SE China and SE Asia infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In recent years, the number of patients with penicilliosis marneffei (PM) has increased rapidly in Guangdong province, SE China. However, the natural habitat and transmission mode of the etiologic agent remains unclear. In this study, wild rats (Microtus, focus Rattus and Rhizomys pruinosus) and soil samples were collected from rat burrows, populated and rural areas from November 2007 to December 2008 for fungus cultures. All isolates, suspected of being P. marneffei, were identified by gross and microscopic morphology and ITS analysis. Sixteen of 23 (about 70%) bamboo rats were P. marneffei positive, whereas none was recovered from hamsters, loirs or soil. This suggests that as of today the bamboo rat is the exclusive natural reservoir for P. marneffei. Definite evidence that rodents are a part of the infectious cycle is still lacking.     

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in AIDS.

Aspergillosis is a fungal infection rarely observed in Cuba during the first years of the AIDS epidemic. However, the increase in aspergillosis cases diagnosed by autopsy in recent years, led us to study the epidemiological, clinical, radiological and anatomopathological characteristics of this disease among the Cuban AIDS patients. A total of 307 autopsies were reviewed, seven of them had invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (2.2%). The disease was predominant in men and in the white race. Neutropenia and drugs use were the risk factor more frequently observed. Clinical manifestations were those unspecific and common to other opportunistic infection of the respiratory system. The more common radiological picture were bilateral nodular infiltrates and cavitary lesions in the upper lobes (two cases). The anatomopathological diagnosis was based on the morphological characteristics of the agent and in the angioinvasive features of the pulmonary lesions. We suggest that aspergillosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of opportunistic respiratory events of AIDS patients in advanced stages.     

Insights into the pathogenicity of Penicillium marneffei.

Penicillium marneffei is a significant pathogen of AIDS patients in Southeast Asia. This fungus is unique in that it is the only dimorphic member of the genus. Pathogenesis of P. marneffei requires the saprobic mold form to undergo a morphological change upon tissue invasion. The in vivo form of this fungus reproduces as a fission yeast that capably evades the host immune system. The processes that control these morphological changes, better termed as phase transition, can be replicated in vitro by incubation of the mold form at 37 degrees C. The unidentified molecular mechanisms regulating phase transition in this fungus are now being uncovered using modern methodologies and novel strategies. A better comprehension of these underlying regulatory pathways will provide insight into eukaryotic cellular development as well as the potential factors responsible for infections caused by P. marneffei and other fungi. Such knowledge may lead to better chemotherapeutic interventions of fungal diseases.     

Spectrum of tuberculosis in patients with HIV infection in British Columbia: report of 40 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical features, treatment and outcome of all known cases of tuberculosis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in British Columbia between 1984 and 1990. DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING: Provincial tuberculosis registry and university-affiliated HIV clinic. PATIENTS: All people with HIV infection in whom active tuberculosis was diagnosed during the study period. RESULTS: All 40 patients identified were men; their mean age was 38 years. Of the subjects 30 (75%) were homosexual, 6 (15%) were homosexual and used intravenous drugs, 2 (5%) just used intravenous drugs, and 1 (2%) had had heterosexual contact with prostitutes; for the remaining subject the risk factor for HIV infection was not established. In all cases cultures of specimens from 15 body sources yielded Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Thirty-five of the patients had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and five had HIV infection uncomplicated except for tuberculosis. In 28 (70%) of the cases no AIDS-defining disease had previously been diagnosed, and in 23 (58%) extrapulmonary tuberculosis represented the AIDS-defining disease. Symptoms at presentation included weight loss (in 80% of the cases), fever (in 75%), cough (in 70%) and night sweats (in 55%). The mean CD4 lymphocyte count was 0.2 x 10(9)/L (in 15 cases). Tuberculin skin test results were positive in 8 of 16 cases. The most striking radiologic finding was intrathoracic adenopathy. All except one of the 36 patients who received appropriate treatment responded favourably at first. Adverse reactions necessitating changes in treatment occurred in 12 (33%) of the cases. Relapse occurred after completion of therapy in two cases (one at 3 weeks and the other at 9 months after treatment was stopped). Tuberculosis was the cause of death in five cases. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculosis in people with HIV infection commonly presents as extrapulmonary disease and precedes or coincides with other AIDS-defining opportunistic infections. In most cases tuberculosis is the AIDS-defining disease. Even though radiologic findings are often unusual physicians should suspect tuberculosis. A careful examination for evidence of disease at multiple sites should be done. The duration and choice of therapy must be adequate to avoid relapse.     

Usefulness of a microimmunodiffusion test for the detection of Penicillium marneffei antigenemia,antibodies, and exoantigens

Eight sera from culturally-proven cases of penicilliosis marneffei and their corresponding isolates were examined for circulating antibody(ies) and antigen, and exoantigens, respectively, using a microimmunodiffusion (MID) test. Two of the 8 sera produced strong precipitins (1-2) when reacted against control Penicillium marneffei antigen (5-week-old shaken cultures at 25 C) in the presence of control rabbit anti-P. marneffei serum. Five of the 8 sera produced a strong precipitin line when reacted against control hyperimmune serum to P. marneffei. These five sera, and one additional serum, which tested negative for antibody to P. marneffei, demonstrated the presence of antigen by reacting only against the anti-P. marneffei serum. Serological evaluations of the sera revealed that the MID test is capable of detecting antibody and antigen in AIDS patients having penicilliosis marneffei infections. Exoantigen analysis of the 8 P. marneffei isolates, which were previously identified using this conventional and time-consuming macro- and micro-morphological characteristics, showed the presence of 1 to 4 specific exoantigens in MID. With the exoantigen analysis, the identity of all of the isolates was confirmed as P. marneffei. Our studies indicated that the serological tests are useful for detecting circulating antibody and/or antigen in patients' sera, and that the exoantigen test is reliable for confirming the identity of P. marneffei cultures. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cryptococcosis in China (1985–2010): Review of Cases from Chinese Database

Background

Cryptococcosis is a potential fatal disease, especially in immunocompromised patients. In China, the profile of cryptococcosis is unclear. Therefore, we summarize the epidemiology and therapy of cryptococcosis in china.

Methods

All cases reports about cryptococcosis in China were collected from CBMdisk database (China Biology and Medicine data disc) with key words of cryptococcosis, or cryptococcal infection, or cryptococcus, and case. The features of the cryptococcosis were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

There were 1,032 reports about cryptococcosis, including 8,769 cases. Among them, there were 16% patient with AIDS/HIV, and 17% ones without underlying diseases. There were 2,371 cases of CNS infection. Among them of 2,068 cases, the treatment protocols and outcome were clearly described. The percentages of patients who received intrathecal treatment of amphotericin B(AmB), AmB?+?5-FC(5-fluorocytosine), AmB?+?FCZ(fluconazole), and AmB?+?5-FU?+?FCZ in each medication group were 10, 43, 53, and 33%, respectively. The mortalities were significantly lower in the AmB, Amb?+?5-FC, AmB?+?FCZ intrathecal treatment groups compared with their non-intrathecal treatment controls (6% vs. 23%, 25% vs. 35%, 20% vs. 30%, respectively, P?P?>?0.05).

Conclusion

The Chinese cryptococcosis had its own special clinical features, such as more patients without identifiable underlying diseases. Intrathecal injection of amphotericin B was effective treatment method for cryptococcal CNS infection in China.     

The Distribution of Different Clades of Seneca Valley Viruses in Guangdong Province,China

Seneca Valley virus (SVV), a newly determined etiological agent of vesicular disease in swine, causes porcine idiopathic disease and occasional acute death in piglets. Recently, an increased number of SVV infection cases have been reported in the United States (US) and China, resulting in significant economic losses to the swine industry. The first identification of SVV in China was reported in Guangdong Province, a major swine producing province. The cases of SVV were continuously reported in Guangdong in 2015 and 2016. However, the spread of SVV in Guangdong in 2017 remains unknown.In this study, we determined two new SVV strains, CH-GD-2017-1 and CH-GD-2017-2, from Guangdong. The genetic analysis suggested that the two Guangdong strains showed different characteristics to previous Guangdong strains. They showed lower nucleotide similarity with strains isolated in 2015 and 2016, and were more similar to the US strains.Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the new strains were clustered in a different clade with previous Guangdong strains.We found 28 mutated amino acids in the new strains, compared with the first Guangdong strain, SVV CH-01-2015. In the geographic analysis, we found that the US and China reported more SVV cases than other countries, and most of the SVV cases were reported in east and central China—of which, Guangdong Province is one of the major epidemic regions. In conclusion, our findings indicate that SVV continued to spread in Guangdong Province in 2017, and two different clades of SVVs have emerged in this region.