Title: A Rare Case of Curvularia Hawaiiensis in the Ear Following Trauma
Authors: Dr Santhi Gunasekaran, Dr Ananya Tupaki-Sreepurna, Mr Vijayakishore Thanneru, Dr Uma Sekar, Dr Mariappan Shanthi, Dr Anupma Jyoti Kindo
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i9.131
Abstract
Curvularia belongs to the group of phaeoid or black fungi that can cause opportunistic infections in humans and other animals. Curvularia hawaiiensis or Cochliobolus hawaiiensis (previously Bipolaris hawaiiensis) is mainly a plant pathogen which is commonly isolated from soil and vegetative matter. We report here a rare case of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) of the ear caused by Curvularia hawaiiensis in a young male after a Road Traffic Accident (RTA). The isolate was identified by a combined approach of morphological and molecular methods using Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) rDNA sequencing. The species previously belonged to the genus Bipolaris and was known as Bipolaris hawaiiensis but has recently been phylogenetically reclassified to fit into genus Curvularia. The patient failed to return for follow-up but was traced and called to return when confirmed to be symptomatic. He was later treated with topical itraconazole.
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