Background

Rhinosporidiosis presents as a slow-growing, tumorlike mass, arising in the nasal mucosa or ocular conjunctivae of humans and animals. The symptoms vary with the location of the masss but patients with nasal involvement often have unilateral nasal obstruction or bleeding due to polyp formation. The pathologist establishes the diagnosis by the characteristic microscopic appearance of the organism in tissue biopsies.

This rare infection has been shrouded in mystery for many years. It was once thought to be a rare bacterial infection, possibly related to a cyanobacterium. Now, there is compelling evidence that it is caused by a rare parasite of fish.

INCIDENCE	Survey of schoolchildren from Pallam, India, found 11 cases in 781 children examined (prevalence 1.4%)
GEOGRAPHY	Europe, Africa, and Asia but is most common in the tropics, with the highest prevalence in southern India and Sri Lanka

 

EPIDEMIOLOGIC ASSOCIATIONS	CHARACTERIZATION
Water activities	Infection secondary to swimming or bathing in freshwater ponds, lakes, or rivers

 

PATHOGENESIS	CHARACTERIZATION
Rhinosporidium seeberi is a Protoctistan Mesomycetozoa	J Clin Microbiol 199;37:2750-2754 Emerg Infect Dis 2000;6:(3)
Cyanobacterium Microsystis	Previous contender for etiology

 

SPECIAL STAINS/IMMUNOPEROXIDASE/OTHER	CHARACTERIZATION
Special stains	Visualized with fungal stains such as methenamine silver and Periodic acid-Schiff, as well as mucicarmine

 

PROGNOSIS AND TREATMENT	CHARACTERIZATION
Prognostic Factors
Recurrence	10% after surgical excision
Treatment	Surgical removal Antiobiotic therapy ineffective

Henry JB. Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. Twentieth Edition. WB Saunders. 2001.

Parasites

• Microscopic Photo
  

Last Updated 3/8/2001

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