Loboa loboi

All attempts to culture the aetiologic agent known as "Loboa loboi" have failed and the natural habitat of this organism also remains unknown. Tissue sections stained by Grocott's methenamine silver (GMS) stain show the presence of chains of darkly pigmented, spheroidal, yeast-like organisms.

GMS stained tissue specimen showing numerous darkly pigmented yeast-like cells, often in chains, 9-12 um in size.

Clinical significance:

Lobomycosis is a chronic, localised, subepidermal infection characterised by the presence of keloidal, verrucoid, nodular lesions or sometimes by vegetating crusty plaques and tumours. The lesions contain masses of spheroidal, yeast-like organisms tentatively referred to as Loboa loboi. There is no systemic spread. The disease has been found in humans and dolphins and is restricted to the Amazon Valley in Brasil.

Mycosis: Lobomycosis