Rare Presentation of Disseminated Histoplasmosis in an Immunocompetent Host

A 40-year-old gentleman from West Bengal, who is a farmer by profession, presented with easy fatigability, significant loss of weight, and asymptomatic, progressive nodulo-ulcerative lesions on his groins of 1 year duration. He gave no history of exploring caves or exposure to any large areas contaminated with bird droppings. General examination revealed firm, nontender, discrete cervical, axillary, and inguinal lymphadenopathy. Systemic examination was within normal limits. Cutaneous examination showed dull erythematous, non-tender, and firm papules and nodules, few with central ulceration on both groins (Figures 1 and 2). There were no other skin lesions seen. The differentials considered were cutaneous tuberculosis, gummatous syphilis, atypical mycobacterial infection, nocardiosis, blastomycosis, sporotrichosis, and histiocytosis. A skin biopsy showed dense lymphoplasmahistiocytic infiltrates in the dermis with multinucleate giant cells containing budding yeasts (Figures 3 and 4). Fungal culture on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar medium showed growth of floccose, velvety, buff colored colonies on the obverse with brown pigmentation on the reverse, which were confirmed to be Histoplasma capsulatum (Figures 5–7). Blood investigations to look for immunosuppression including human immunodeficiency virus antibodies were negative. A computerized tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen showed large hypodense lesions in both adrenals. His chest X-ray and bone marrow examination were within normal limits. A diagnosis of disseminated histoplasmosis was made based on the skin biopsy showing intracellular yeasts, which on culture grew colonies ofH. capsulatum, and the CT scan showing involvement of both adrenals. Histoplasmosis is a highly infectious mycosis caused by an intracellular fungus H. capsulatum. Histoplasmosis is endemic in the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys of the United States, central and South America, and Africa, but is less frequently reported in Asia and Europe. As pointed by Antinori, in India, this disease is predominantly seen along the Gangetic belt of northeast India. It can present as acute pulmonary, chronic pulmonary, acute progressive, chronic disseminated, and primary cutaneous forms. The risk factors for the acquisition of the disease include acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, primary and acquired immunodeficiency states, post transplant patients, and patients on immunosuppressive medications and extremes of age. In immunocompetent individuals, the disease usually manifests as an asymptomatic pulmonary infection. Disseminated histoplasmosis with cutaneous lesions is very rare in