ABSTRACT
The Trichosporon species are basidiomycetous yeast-like organisms that are ubiquitous and found predominantly in warm climate regions. The identification of Trichosporon in clinical samples has epidemiological and clinical relevance. In case of deep-seated Trichosporon infection, sample collection must follow the general guidelines for bacterial and fungal infections since Trichosporon may show growth in common bacterial and fungal media. Microscopic examination may provide useful information for the diagnosis of a Trichosporon infection. Sera from patients with disseminated Trichosporon infection may show cross-reactivity with assays design to detect the capsular antigen glucuronoxylomannan from Cryptococcus. An in-house real-time polymerase chain reaction assay designed with T. asahii-specific primers/probe has been shown to detect T. asahii DNA in blood samples of trichosporonosis patients, with higher sensitivity than the polysaccharide antigen assay for Cryptococcus. Trichosporon serology has been useful for the diagnosis of summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
