Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by plant pathogenic Corynespora cassiicola: A case report

Abstract

Corynespora cassiicola is a common plant pathogen responsible for leaf-spotting diseases in the tropical and subtropical areas. C. cassiicola seldom causes human infections. Here we describe a case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by C. cassiicola in a 76-year-old Chinese man, who presented to our hospital with a purulent discharge and painful sensation on his right leg. Skin biopsy revealed an abscess, and culture confirmed C. cassiicola to be the causative agent. The result was further identified by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region. The patient was successfully treated with systemic voriconazole and wound debridement: the lesion disappeared after 20 days.

Keywords

• Corynespora cassiicola
• Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis
• Human infections
• Case report