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Case Reports
. 2004 Jul 1;351(1):42-7.
doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa032655.

Fatal myositis due to the microsporidian Brachiola algerae, a mosquito pathogen

Christina M Coyle  1 , Louis M Weiss, Luther V Rhodes 3rd, Ann Cali, Peter M Takvorian, Daniel F Brown, Govinda S Visvesvara, Lihua Xiao, Jaan Naktin, Eric Young, Marcelo Gareca, Georgia Colasante, Murray Wittner
Affiliations
Case Reports

Fatal myositis due to the microsporidian Brachiola algerae, a mosquito pathogen

Christina M Coyle et al. N Engl J Med. .
No abstract available

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Photomicrographs of Brachiola algerae in Muscle-Biopsy Specimens and Tissue Culture
In Panel A, a low-power photomicrograph of the initial muscle-biopsy specimen obtained after the patient presented with myositis and muscle pain shows multiple organisms in the muscle fibers (arrows) with associated cell lysis but little or no inflammation (hematoxylin and eosin, ×100). In Panel B, a high-power photomicrograph of the second muscle-biopsy specimen demonstrates cytolysis (arrow) of the muscle fibers surrounding spores (×400). In Panel C, a phase-contrast photomicrograph of B. algerae isolated from muscle shows spores (arrow) and proliferative forms throughout the cytoplasm of the host cell (×400). In Panel D, a high-power photomicrograph shows clear immunofluorescence staining (arrows) of the initial muscle-biopsy specimen with antiserum against B. algerae (human corneal isolate) (×400).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Findings on Transmission Electron Microscopy of the Initial Muscle-Biopsy Specimen
In Panel A, a diplokaryon, a thickened plasmalemma (arrows), and vesicotubular extensions (arrowheads) are evident in proliferative forms of Brachiola algerae in muscle (×14,000). Nu denotes nucleus. Panel B shows a mature B. algerae spore with a single row of nine polar filaments (arrow) in cross section. Mature spores in this biopsy specimen had only single rows of 8 to 12 polar filaments in cross section (×18,300).
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