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Blastomycosis in Africa

A review of known cases diagnosed between 1951 and 1987

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Abstract

The known African cases of blastomycosis to 1987 are presented, including thirteen previously undescribed cases. This brings to 81 the total number of cases known to have occurred in Africa. The question of whether the disease in Africa is the same in all respects as that in North America is addressed; the age and sex distributions of patients are similar. Minor differences in the clinical features relate particularly to the type of skin lesion, the more frequent bone involvement and the less frequent central nervous system involvement in the African patient. Little is known about the epidemiology of blastomycosis in Africa; one noteworthy feature is the apparent absence of the disease in dogs. Isolates of Blastomyces dermatitidis from the two continents, although closely related, differ in some respects.

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Author notes

  1. William F. Carman

    Present address: Department of Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, W2 INY, Paddington London

  2. Celia N. Young (Head)

    Present address: Wellcome (Pty) Ltd, Kempton Park, South Africa

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, School of Pathology of the South African Institute for Medical Research and the University of the Witwatersrand, P O Box 1038, 2000, Johannesburg, South Africa

    William F. Carman & John A. Frean (Registrar)

  2. Department of Microbiology, Medical University of Southern Africa, Medunsa, South Africa

    Heather H. Crewe-Brown (Head)

  3. Department of Microbiology, Medical University of Southern Africa, Medunsa, South Africa

    Gary A. Culligan (Registrar)

  4. Mycology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, School of Pathology of the South African Institute for Medical Research and the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

    Celia N. Young (Head)

Authors
  1. William F. Carman
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  2. John A. Frean
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  4. Gary A. Culligan
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  5. Celia N. Young
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Carman, W.F., Frean, J.A., Crewe-Brown, H.H. et al. Blastomycosis in Africa. Mycopathologia 107, 25–32 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437587

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