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Clinical Microbiology Reviews, April 2007, p. 230-242, Vol. 20, No. 2
0893-8512/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/CMR.00032-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Human Protothecosis

Cornelia Lass-Flörl* and Astrid Mayr

Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria

Human protothecosis is a rare infection caused by members of the genus Prototheca. Prototheca species are generally considered to be achlorophyllic algae and are ubiquitous in nature. The occurrence of protothecosis can be local or disseminated and acute or chronic, with the latter being more common. Diseases have been classified as (i) cutaneous lesions, (ii) olecranon bursitis, or (iii) disseminated or systemic manifestations. Infections can occur in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients, although more severe and disseminated infections tend to occur in immunocompromised individuals. Prototheca wickerhamii and Prototheca zopfii have been associated with human disease. Usually, treatment involves medical and surgical approaches; treatment failure is not uncommon. Antifungals such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, and amphotericin B are the most commonly used drugs to date. Among them, amphotericin B displays the best activity against Prototheca spp. Diagnosis is largely made upon detection of characteristic structures observed on histopathologic examination of tissue.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Fritz Pregl Str. 3/III, 6020 Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria. Phone: 43 512 9003 70725. Fax: 43 512 9003 70003. E-mail: cornelia.lass-floerl{at}i-med.ac.at

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, April 2007, p. 230-242, Vol. 20, No. 2
0893-8512/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/CMR.00032-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Tortorano, A. M., Prigitano, A., Dho, G., Piccinini, R., Dapra, V., Viviani, M. A. (2008). In vitro activity of conventional antifungal drugs and natural essences against the yeast-like alga Prototheca. J Antimicrob Chemother 61: 1312-1314 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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