North American blastomycosis in Africans

Two young adults, one a native of Libya and one a Sudanese from Saudi Arabia, were referred at different times to the chest service at Westminister Hospital in London with a diagnosis of tuberculosis. They both had neurological deficits due to vertebral lesions. In spite of the fact that neither patient had ever been to North America, diagnoses of North American blastomycosis were established; both patients made remarkable recoveries on amphotericin B therapy.     

South American blastomycosis. Apropos of new cases

Twenty-seven cases of South American blastomycosis are reported. Pulmonary lesions predominate and the diagnosis rests on the findings of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in sputum and tissues. Serological examinations (complement fixation and immunodiffusion) are also useful. Treatment includes sulphonamides, imidazole derivatives and, in cases resistant to these drugs, Amphotericin B. Surgery is limited to abscesses, bone lesions and bronchial stenoses.