A Rare Case of Disseminated Histoplasmosis in anImmunocompetent Young Male: Diagnostic Value of Bone MarrowBiopsy and Fungal Morphological Identification

Authors

Abstract

The dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum causes histoplasmosis, an infection that can manifest as anything from a simple, self-limiting illness to a serious, widely spread illness. Fungal culture is still the gold standard for confirmation, but diagnosis is sometimes delayed by its slow development. Bone marrow analysis can offer a quick and accurate diagnostic substitute in these situations. We describe a male immunocompetent patient, age 21, who has had a persistent fever and malaise for three months that have not improved with empirical treatment. Repeated blood cultures and serologic testing came out negative, but laboratory studies showed cytopenias. Grocott-Gomori methenamine silver and periodic acid-Schiff stains, on the other hand, revealed intracellular and extracellular yeast-like organisms in bone marrow aspirate and trephine biopsy that were morphologically consistent with Histoplasma capsulatum.

Keywords:

Histoplasma capsulatum, disseminated histoplasmosis, bone marrow biopsy, cytopenia, fungal morphology

Published

2026/06/03

Issue

Vol. Volume 7-issue 2

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