Human and animal isolates of Pseudallescheria boydii and Scedosporium species, from Melbourne, Australia, 1977–1995

Abstract

From 1977 to 1995, 25 of the fungal cultures referred to the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory at The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia were identified as Scedosporium apiospermum, Pseudallescheria boydii, or Scedosporium prolificans. These cultures had been isolated from 22 patients at metropolitan hospitals and three animals at Veterinary Institutes. Eight of the human isolates were identified as P. boydii, 11 as S. apiospermum and three as S. prolificans. Isolates of S. apiospermum and P. boydii were from localised infections in immunocompetent patients, after trauma in two cases; from the lungs of patients with predisposing pulmonary disorders, such as cystic fibrosis or mycobacterial infection; and from immunocompromised patients with haematological malignancies or after heart, lung or heart/lung transplantation. Scedosporium prolificans isolates were from immunocompromised patients, one of whom had received a heart transplant, another had HIV infection and the third suffered with acute myelogenous leukaemia and died with disseminated infection. An isolate from the vaginal discharge of a horse with an infected uterus was identified as S. apiospermum. Isolates from aseptically collected milk samples from a goat and a cow with histories of mastitis, were identified as P. boydii. This study records the spectrum of infections caused by these opportunistic fungal pathogens in Melbourne from 1977 to 1995.