Elusive treatment for human rhinosporidiosis

The aim of this study was to clarify the contentious taxonomic classification of Rhinosporidium seeberi, the cause of human rhinosporidiosis, which may have treatment implications.

PCR was used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-2 region from the genomic DNA of the aetiological agent obtained from a sample of human rhinosporidiosis lesions. The amplicon was sequenced and the organism identified using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tools (BLAST).

Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the aetiological agent clustered along with the R. seeberi isolated from humans and also with Amphibiocystidium ranae from frogs. This organism is a member of the order Dermocystida in the class Mesomycetozoea. A patient with disseminated rhinosporidiosis did not respond to conventional therapy with dapsone and surgical excision, and treatment with amphotericin B also proved futile.

An effective treatment for R. seeberi-a eukaryote belonging to the class Mesomycetozoea-is still elusive.