Abstract

BAVA, Amadeo Javier  and  ALVAREZ GUIDI, Gabriela. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in feces. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2006, vol.40, n.3, pp.391-394. ISSN 0325-2957.

The presence of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is reported in a fecal sample of a patient suffering from the "juvenile" clinical form of paracoccidioidomycosis, which was submitted to this laboratory for its parasitologic study. Rounded and scantly budding fungal elements which a thick wall, variable size, and which are between 7-50 µ, and in some cases grouped in chains and clusters were revealed in fresh preparations of the fecal concentrates and in stained smears with PAS and modified Grocott techniques. P. brasiliensis was also observed in this patient's sputum sample and its presence in the feces could be explained as the result of the swallowing of the pulmonary secretions charged with the yeasts and their further passage across the intestinal lumen. The presence of fungal pathogens other than Candida in fecal samples is unusual, with controversial significance in most cases, but it should not be underestimated by the laboratory professionals and clinicians.

Keywords : paracoccidioidomycosis; Paracoccidioides brasiliensis; mycological diagnosis.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )