Background: Dimorphic fungi may cause infections and symptoms similar to tuberculosis (TB), in man and animals. Such infections, individually or concurrently with tuberculosis have been identified in cattle in Kenya, raising possibility of infections in other animals, including humans. The study aimed to identify and quantify dimorphic fungi co-infection in persons with tuberculosis in Laikipia County, Kenya

 

Methods: Smear-positive sputum samples, 400, were obtained from TB clinics between October 2017 and November 2018.  The samples were examined microscopically for yeast fungi, cultured for isolation of yeast, conversion to molds, and conversion from molds to yeasts. The isolates were characterized morphologically

Results:   Blastopores, with morphological characteristics of Paracoccidiodes and Blastomyces were observed in 37 smears of the sputum samples.  Similar yeast cells were observed in smears of the sputum cultures.  The yeast cultures converted to molds on incubation at room temperature and back to yeasts on incubation at 37°C

Conclusion: Dimorphic fungi, morphologically identified as Paracoccidiodes and Blastomyces, concomitantly infect a proportion of tuberculosis patients in the study area. It is recommended that routine diagnosis for tuberculosis in the region should consider infection or co-infection by dimorphic fungi and appropriate treatment instituted 

Keywords: Tuberculosis, Dimorphic fungi, Co-infection