Disseminated histoplasmosis diagnosed in the bone marrow of an HIV-infected patient: First case imported in Tunisia

Abstract

Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by a dimorphic fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum. We report a first case of disseminated histoplasmosis in a 34-year-old woman, infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), originating from Ivory Coast and living in Tunisia for 4 years. She was complaining from fever, chronic diarrhoea and pancytopenia. The Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum was identified by direct microscopic examination of the bone marrow. She was treated by Amphotericin B, relayed by itraconazole. Even though a regression of symptoms and normalization of blood cell count (BCC), the patient died in a respiratory distress related to CMV hypoxemic pneumonia.

Keywords: Disseminated histoplasmosis; HIV-seropositive patient; Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum; Imported case; Tunisia.