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Trametes polyzona, an emerging filamentous basidiomycete in Réunion Island

Alexandre Gauthier1, Julien Jaubert2, Nicolas Traversier3

  • 1Service de Reanimation Polyvalente, CHU Réunion, St Pierre, France.

Mycoses
|February 17, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Two critically ill patients on Réunion Island developed serious pulmonary infections caused by Trametes polyzona. This emerging fungus, identified via DNA sequencing, marks the first reported human infection by this tropical basidiomycete.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Trametes polyzona is a filamentous basidiomycete fungus.
  • This fungus is prevalent in tropical regions.
  • Human infections by T. polyzona have not been previously documented.

Observation:

  • Two cases of severe pulmonary infections were observed in critically ill patients.
  • The infections occurred in Réunion Island.
  • Histopathological evidence confirmed T. polyzona's role in one patient's lung infection.

Findings:

  • Identification of the causative agent was confirmed using ribosomal DNA sequencing (internal transcribed spacer and D1/D2 region of 28S rDNA).
  • Trametes polyzona was identified as the pathogen responsible for the pulmonary infections.
  • This study presents the first report of human infection by T. polyzona.

Implications:

  • Trametes polyzona should be considered an emerging cause of human fungal infections, particularly in tropical areas.
  • The findings highlight the need for increased awareness of T. polyzona in clinical settings.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the pathogenesis and epidemiology of T. polyzona infections.
Keywords:
Trametesbasidiomycotafungalfungilung diseasespolyporales

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