Protothecosis in human medicine

• Published in: International journal of hygiene and environmental health Vol. 204; no. 5; pp. 297 - 302
• Main Authors: Thiele, Daniela, Bergmann, Armin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Jena Elsevier GmbH 01.02.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: algae; Amphotericin B - therapeutic use; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatology; Human; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Infection - drug therapy; Medical sciences; Prototheca; Prototheca - pathogenicity; protothecosis; Public Health; Skin Diseases - drug therapy; Skin Diseases - microbiology; Skin Diseases - pathology; Skin involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous. General aspects; Synovitis - drug therapy; Synovitis - microbiology; Synovitis - pathology; Human; Prototheca; algae; protothecosis; Infection; Symptomatology; Protothecosis; Treatment; Algae; Parasitosis; Review; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 1438-4639; 1618-131X
• DOI: 10.1078/1438-4639-00105

Prototheca spp. are ubiquitous achlorophyllous algae that produce disease in humans and animals. In the past years infections with Prototheca have obtained increasing importance in human medicine. The cases have been classified into three clinical forms: cutaneous and/ or subcutaneous infection, synovitis of olecranon bursa or other fibrous tissue and systemic infection. Patients with a mild degree of immunosuppression may become colonized by Prototheca spp. with a subsequent worsening of their immune surveillance and spread of the disease. Among the numerous pharmacologic agents tried, amphotericin B is the most promising. Successful treatment of protothecosis involves radical excision of the involved structures.