Blastomycosis: Report of a case from North India and its current status in the Indian subcontinent

Blastomycosis is a rarely known disease in India. This review traces the misdiagnosed cases of the disease reported as early as 1925 and later till 1997. Of the several authentic cases reported from India, only two have been authentically diagnosed autochthonous cases. Our case diagnosed on histological basis had a diagnostic dilemma as one of the PAS stained tissue section from the lesion showed slightly elongated yeast cells though these were with multiple budding. With the help of academic colleagues (joint authors in the paper), diagnosis of this case as blastomycosis was confirmed by latest molecular techniques as described in the case report. The clinical and diagnostic features of human autochthonous cases are reviewed. There is only known report of canine blastomycosis from India. It is suggested additional canine cases should be looked for in different parts of India to facilitate detection of endemic foci of B. dermatitidis in the country.