Human penicilliosis marneffei and its relation to the bamboo rat (Rhizomys pruinosus)

Abstract

Fourteen cases of penicilliosis marneffei occurred in persons in the Guangxi region of the People's Republic of China; the first known case of that disease had been found in Vietnamese bamboo rats (Rhizomys sinensis). A survey of the wild rats in this region was initiated to determine if any of these animals were infected by Penicillium marneffei. Although R. sinensis rats live in the study area, they are relatively rare. The only rats captured were another species of bamboo rat (R. pruinosus). Of the 19 rats captured, 18 yielded cultures of P. marneffei from one or more of their internal organs. The implications of this finding in respect to the epidemiology of penicilliosis marneffei are discussed.