A fungal infection of the gastrointestinal tract that mimics cancer and inflammatory bowel disease appears to be emerging in the Southwestern United States and other desert regions, according to Mayo Clinic researchers in Arizona investigating the disease. The invasive fungus, Basidiobolus ranarum, is typically found in the soil, decaying organic matter and the gastrointestinal tracts of fish, reptiles, amphibians, and bats.
“The exact mode of acquisition of this gastrointestinal infection is unclear, although consumption of contaminated food or dirt is the favored hypothesis,” says lead author H.R. Vikram, M.D., consultant, Division of Infectious Diseases, at Mayo Clinic, where seven of the 19 U.S. cases studied were treated. “The infection is still considered so rare that no one had put together a complete description.” He adds that more study needs to be done to determine how this infection is contracted, what underlying diseases might predispose patients to this infection and how best to treat it. He emphasizes that early recognition is key to successful treatment.
Patients with this rare fungal infection had non-specific symptoms such as abdominal pain or a mass that could be felt on examination. Before a conclusive diagnosis of the fungal infection was made, most patients were thought to have an abdominal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or diverticulitis. Surgical resection of the area of involvement and prolonged antifungal therapy successfully treated most patients.
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Fungal Spores found in soil penetrate the soil and find their way into the deteriorated walls of a private ground well. The well is completely compromised (unbeknownst; possibly for years) and after repeated ingestion of water these fungal spores begin to germinate within the confines of the human gut. Time passes 18 months or so and they are no longer granules buried within the walls if an abstract thick walled gelatous membrane but have become lifesize with an ever evolving array of cylindral brains followed by fruited branching bodies with clamped myciela
and the ability to attach themselves to your gut and intestines .They have hyphae and gongli characteristics as well as an off white abundance of barnacle like teeth (individual)which open up and close to bury within the soft tissue. Then they leak through the intestine into the peritoneal cavity and the thick walled fungi attatch to everything else other organs and muscle and bone. Eventually, the granules that started all (their baby spores) gets into the blood stream and finds new places to bury themselves adjacent to bone and in the muscle.
PS. How and where do you find a Dr.to diagnose and treat this before you die?
We visited AZ April 13 – 20, 2012. Since that time my 12 year old son has had stomach pains, sporadic late-night fevers, no appetite and has lost 13+ lbs. CBC Test revealed a high WBC, platelets,ESR,etc. Stool sample revealed signs of massive inflammation. Liver, thyroid, etc all normal. Crohn’s is highly suspected and he has been referred to a pediatric gastroenterologist who will conduct a colonoscopy and upper GI scope on August 20, 2012. Because my son’s sudden illness is coincident with our trip to AZ I did some research and came across the article about Basidobolus as an emerging infection. I called Az Dept of health a few weeks ago and spoke to the fungal epidemiologist. She concurred that based on his symptoms and the environment of where we stayed in AZ (a guest/pool house surrounded by gardens, fruit trees, sprinklers and compost) that basidio should be ruled out. However, my son’s doctors here in Maine contend that basidio is too rare and his exposure was too brief to consider this as a potential cause for his illness as part of the scope procedures. I’m looking for any advice or recommendations that I can pass along to my son’s doctors about hos to test for Basidiobulus. Thanks
Basidiobolus gastrointestinal infection remains a very rare illness, and is less likely. The only way to make a diagnosis will be to look at the histopathology of the colon (on biopsy samples that will be obtained during colonoscopy), and perform fungal stains and fungal cultures on the colon biopsy specimens. Would make sure other gastrointestinal pagthogens have been excluded by obtaining a stool sample for culture, ova & parasite exam, etc. Dr. Vikram
Dr Vikram – Could you provide your contact information or the contact information of another physician(knowledgeable about infections native to AZ)that I could pass along to my son’s doctors to ensure they have applied the right amount of “suspicion” before they diagnose him with an un-curable, chronic disease such as Crohn’s? Thank you.
Dr Vikram, thank you for the response. I fully accept that the infection is rare and less likely. However, my son was feeling well prior to our trip ,which caused me to be suspicious of the food we ate and sites we visited while in Az. He did have a stool sample for parasites and salmonella (we purchased a Russian Tortoise after our trip to Az ). All negative. We traveled and hiked all over the state and drank from the Grand Canyon spring water spigot, so I thought giardia might be the cause. We lived in Phx until 2003 so I was familiar with fungus in the soil, which is what brought me to your research. I realize you can’t make a diagnosis, but should I accept his doctors’ inclination against testing for basidio as part of the colononoscopy/ endoscopy procedures?