A Case of Cutaneous Prototheocsis / 대한의진균학회지

ABSTRACT

Protothecosis is an infection caused by achloric algae of the genus Prototheca. It is found ubiquitously in nature, particularly in the slime flux of trees and sewage. Only two species including Prototheca wickerhamii and Prototheca zopfii have been known to be pathogenic in humans. A 64-year-old man presented intermittent pruritic erythematous confluent grouped papules and nodules on the left upper arm. Histopathologic study revealed some sporangia of morula-like appearance and chronic granulomatous inflammation. The PAS stain demonstrated the characteristic spores showing multiple internal septations and some unicellular endospore. P. wickerhamii was isolated from culture and identified by the biochemical studies. Oral itraconazole 200 mg/day administration resulted in marked regression of the skin lesion after 8 weeks.