Chromoblastomycosis--a clinical and mycological study of 71 cases from Sri Lanka

Chromoblastomycosis, a well-documented chronic fungal infection, represents a specific clinical entity with typical warty cutaneous nodules and a worldwide distribution. Although more prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, only a few reports are available from Sri Lanka or from Asia. Five etiologic agents of chromoblastomycosis have been recognized worldwide. Of these the majority of infections have been caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi. During the period from 1952 to 1962, only twelve culturally proven cases of this disease had been recorded from Sri Lanka. The fungus responsible was F. pedrosoi. The present report presents a study of the clinical and mycological features of 71 Sri Lankan patients with chromoblastomycosis for the 16-year period from 1978 to 1993. It documents three etiological agents. Culture identification was made in 69 cases. The three fungal species were Fonsecaea pedrosoi (64), Phialophora verrucosa (3) and a fungus compatible morphologically with F. compacta (2). The isolation of a fungus morphologically compatible with F. compacta is of significance since only 12 cases have been documented in the world's literature so far.