title: [Disseminated Penicillium marneffei infection associated with AIDS, report of a case].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the clinical and laboratory features of disseminated Penicillium marneffei infection in patients with AIDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The HIV antibody in serum was assayed by both enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and Western immunoblot (WIB) methods. Morphology of the pathogenic fungus in smear and biopsy specimens of bone marrow was observed. The fungus was isolated from the patient's skin lesion and inoculated into the abdominal cavities of 2 rats and 2 mice. Twenty days later the rats and mice were killed and their viscera were taken out. Blood from the organs were cultured in Sabourand glucose agar at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C. The colonies were observed. The morphology of the fungus was observed by microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common clinical manifestations of Penicilium marneffei infection were fever, weight loss, anemia, papular skin lesion, hepatosplenomegaly, and lymphadenectasis. Yeast-like cells were found in the culture at 37 degrees C or in tissues. The fungi outside the host cells were elongated, often curved, sausage-like and with clear central septi. When cultured at 25 degrees C, the fungus was mycelia-like and produced a characteristic red pigment, diffusing into the medium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disseminated Penicilliosis marneffei is one of the most important opportunistic infections in patients with AIDS in Southeast Asia and the southern part of China. Since there is no specific clinical manifestation for Penicillium marneffei infection, it is often misdiagnosed. Definite diagnosis requires culture of the pathogenic fungus from clinical specimens. The fungus is thermally dimorphic, produces red pigment, and is sausage-form with clear central septum outside the host cell. Amphotericin B and itraconazole are effective in treating Penicilliosis marneffei.
authors.affiliation: First University Hospital of West China University of Medical Sciences. Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Xiaomei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ran
authors.forename: Huijiao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wentong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Zhiyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Chengqi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Gandi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Weiping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009181:Mycoses / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D010407:Penicillium