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Identification and first report of Inonotus (Phellinus) tropicalis as an etiologic agent in a patient with chronic

D A Sutton1, E H Thompson, M G Rinaldi

  • 1Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. suttond@uthscsa.edu

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|February 8, 2005
PubMed

Insights

This study identifies Inonotus (Phellinus) tropicalis as a cause of human disease. Methods are described to aid in the identification of this filamentous basidiomycete in clinical settings.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Clinical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Filamentous basidiomycetes are often challenging to identify in clinical laboratories due to the lack of distinct morphological features.
  • Accurate identification is crucial for appropriate patient management and understanding fungal pathogenesis.

Observation:

  • This paper documents the first reported instance of human disease caused by Inonotus (Phellinus) tropicalis.
  • The clinical presentation and laboratory findings associated with this infection are detailed.

Findings:

  • Morphological and molecular methods were employed to support the identification of Inonotus (Phellinus) tropicalis.
  • The study provides a reliable approach for confirming this fungal pathogen in clinical samples.

Implications:

  • This research expands the spectrum of known human pathogens within the Basidiomycota phylum.
  • Clinicians and microbiologists should consider Inonotus (Phellinus) tropicalis in the differential diagnosis of fungal infections.
  • Further studies are warranted to investigate the epidemiology and treatment of diseases caused by this fungus.

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