Emergomyces africanus in Soil, South Africa

Abstract

We detected Emergomyces africanus, a thermally dimorphic fungus that causes an HIV-associated systemic mycosis, by PCR in 18 (30%) of 60 soil samples from a wide range of habitats in South Africa. Direct and indirect culture techniques were unsuccessful. Experimental intraperitoneal inoculation of conidia induced murine disease.

Keywords

• mycoses
• environmental microbiology
• emmonsia
• mice
• fungal infections
• soil