Lobomycosis

What is Lobomycosis?

Lobomycosis (Lobo’s disease) is a skin and subcutaneous chronic granulomatous disease resulting from infection with the fungus Loboa loboi (Lacazia loboi).

For the first time reports of the occurrence of this disease have been associated with the disease of people living in Central and South America, especially in Brazil in the Amazon River region. Also known cases of bottle-nosed dolphins that live in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

The only case of transmission of the disease from an infected dolphin to a person working with him was reported in the 1980s.

Causes of Lobomycosis

Loboa loboi is the causative agent of lobomikoza (Lobo disease, Amazon blastomycosis), characterized by skin lesions and the development of keloid-like scars, as well as a large number of histiocytes and giant cells. In 1999, a new name was proposed – Locazia loboi.

The source of infection is water. The introduction of the fungus contributes to skin trauma. There have been several cases in Europe in persons exposed to Atlantic dolphins. The pathogen is not transmitted from person to person.

Symptoms of Lobomycosis

In the tissue, oval cells with a diameter of 8–16 μm are detected, having a double-wall membrane and 1-2 daughter buds. The cultural phase hyphal. It is poorly understood due to the difficulty of cultivation.

Rhinosporidium seeberi causes rhinoporidiosis, a chronic granulomatous lesion of the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, nasopharynx, eyes, rectum, external genitalia. People, horses, cattle are ill, mainly in countries with a warm climate. In preparations of lumps of papillomatous growths, large (diameter 200-300 microns) spherules are found, filled with numerous spores (diameter 6-10 microns). Enlarged spherules burst with the release of the dispute. On nutrient media, the pathogen does not grow.