Blastomycosis in Man after Kinkajou Bite | CDC EID

EID Journal Home > Volume 17, Number 2–February 2011

Volume 17, Number 2–February 2011
Dispatch
Blastomycosis in Man after Kinkajou Bite
Julie R. Harris, David D. Blaney, Mark D. Lindsley, Sherif R. Zaki, Christopher D. Paddock, Clifton P. Drew, April J. Johnson, Douglas Landau, Joel Vanderbush, and Robert Baker

Author affiliations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (J.R. Harris, D.D. Blaney, M.D. Lindsley, S.A. Zaki, C.D. Paddock, C.P. Drew); Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA (A.J. Johnson); Indiana State Department of Health Laboratories, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA (D. Landau); Animalia, Inc., Indianapolis (J. Vanderbush); and Community Health Network, Indianapolis (R. Baker)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
We report transmission of Blastomyces dermatitidis fungal infection from a pet kinkajou to a man. When treating a patient with a recalcitrant infection and a history of an animal bite, early and complete animal necropsy and consideration of nonbacterial etiologies are needed.
Blastomycosis is caused by inhalation of conidia of the dimorphic fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis. This fungus causes pneumonia; disseminated infection; or rarely, cutaneous disease through contact with a wound (1). It is endemic to southern, south-central, and midwestern states in the United States, particularly in areas bordering the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers (2). Outbreaks among humans have been linked to recreational activities near rivers or streams in disease-endemic areas (3,4).

Blastomycosis can also affect other mammals (5). Zoonotic transmission of blastomycosis is rare but has been reported in association with dog bites (6,7), cat scratches (8), and animal necropsies (9). We report zoonotic transmission of blastomycosis by a bite from a pet kinkajou.

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Blastomycosis in Man after Kinkajou Bite | CDC EID


Suggested Citation for this Article
Harris JR, Blaney DD, Lindsley MD, Zaki SR, Paddock CD, Drew CP, et al. Blastomycosis in man after kinkajou bite. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Feb [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/17/2/268.htm

DOI: 10.3201/eid1702.101046


Comments to the Authors
Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:

Julie R. Harris, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Mailstop C09, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; email: ggt5@cdc.gov