Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis Murray Wittner Herbert B. Tanowitz The leishmaniases are vector-borne diseases caused by obligate intracellular protozoans or hemoflagellates of the genus Leishmania. The diseases affect the viscera, skin, and/or mucous…
Giardia Lamblia
Giardia Lamblia William J. Klish Giardia lamblia holds the distinction of being the first protozoan parasite to be recognized. It was described in a letter by van Leeuwenhoek of Delft,…
Cryptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidiosis Walter T. Hughes Cryptosporidiosis is a common enteric infection of humans and animals that is caused by the coccidian protozoan Cryptosporidium. The first human case was described in 1976….
Babesiosis
Babesiosis Christian C. Patrick Babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease that is caused by an intraerythrocytic protozoan manifesting in hemolysis in susceptible animals. The disease has been noted since biblical…
Entamoeba Histolytica
Entamoeba Histolytica Bradley Howard Kessler Amebiasis is defined as infection with Entamoeba histolytica, with or without overt clinical symptoms. Distribution of the disease is worldwide, affecting as much as 10%…
Miscellaneous Fungal Infections
Miscellaneous Fungal Infections Michael B. Smith Michael R. McGinnis Numerous reports have implicated soil-borne fungi as causative agents of fungal diseases in a variety of clinical settings. Because most soil-…
Sporotrichosis
Sporotrichosis Michael R. McGinnis Michael B. Smith Sporotrichosis is a chronic fungal infection typically limited to cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues. Dissemination of the infection is unusual. The causative agent is…
Histoplasmosis
Histoplasmosis Robert J. Leggiadro INTRODUCTION Histoplasmosis, caused by the dimorphic soil fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, is the most common pulmonary and systemic mycosis in humans. Normal as well as immunocompromised hosts…
Cryptococcosis
Cryptococcosis Stephanie H. Stovall Steven C. Buckingham Cryptococcosis is a mycosis that predominantly affects the lung, central nervous system (CNS), skin, and bone. Nineteen species of the genus Cryptococcus have…
Coccidioidomycosis
Coccidioidomycosis Ziad M. Shehab EPIDEMIOLOGY Coccidioidomycosis is an infection caused by the dimorphic fungus Coccidioides immitis. Usually, the primary pulmonary infection is self-limited, but disseminated and even fatal disease can…
