Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Infecting Mice with Malassezia spp. to Study the Fungus-Host Interaction
Published on: November 6, 2019
A case of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis due to Lichtheimia ramosa
Shima Aboutalebian1,2, Mahzad Erami3,4, Mansooreh Momen-Heravi3
1Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Background:
Mucormycosis is a life-threatening invasive fungal infection in immunocompromised and COVID-19 patients.
Case Report:
Here, we report a fatal rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis caused by Lichtheimia ramosa, in a 79-year-old diabetic female. She was initially admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 infection and received broad-spectrum antibiotics and corticosteroids. After 1 month, she was admitted again because of persistent headaches and decreased right eye movement when the computed tomography scan showed mucosal thickening and opacification of paranasal sinuses. Microbiological investigations, including culture and direct microscopy, and histopathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of proven mucormycosis. The isolated causal agent was identified as Lichtheimia ramosa by sequencing the entire ITS region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Despite surgical debridement and administration of liposomal amphotericin B 5 mg/kg/day, the patient's level of consciousness suddenly deteriorated; she was intubated and mechanically ventilated in the ICU and died on the same day.
Conclusion:
To our knowledge, this is the first worldwide case of COVID-19-associated rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis due to Lichtheimia ramosa.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Skin Diseases and Disorders
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Fungal Group Zygomycota
Atypical Pneumonia
Cytomegalovirus Disease
Cryptococcal Meningitis
Candidiasis

