title: Imported and autochthonous histoplasmosis in Italy: new cases and old problems.
abstract: In the past the Italian soil was considered as a low-endemic pabulum for H. capsulatum var. capsulatum and only few autochthonous cases of histoplasmosis were reported in Italy, especially in the Po valley. The aim of the paper was to evaluate this possibility by reviewing the literature and providing our own personal data. Four additional cases of histoplasmosis were observed during 1999-2003 in AIDS immigrant or in Italian citizens, and in travellers to endemic areas. One of the AIDS patients was an autochthonous case of histoplasmosis. The Italian literature was reviewed. Recent cases and literature data confirm the possible autochthonous presence of histoplasmosis in Italy, especially in the Northern regions.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa Microbiologia e Virologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy. Farina.Claudio@sancarlo.mi.it
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizzi
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gabbi
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caligaris
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goglio
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D000328:Adult; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000208:ethnology; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007843:Latin America; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009527:Nicaragua; D010154:Pakistan; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013636:Tanzania; D014195:Travel