A significant number of reported Absidia corymbifera (Lichtheimia corymbifera) infections are caused by Lichtheimia ramosa (syn. Lichtheimia hongkongensis): an emerging cause of mucormycosis

Abstract

Recently, we and others reported the discovery of Lichtheimia ramosa (syn. Lichtheimia hongkongensis). We also hypothesized that a proportion of ‘Absidia corymbifera (Lichtheimia corymbifera)’ reported in the literature could be L. ramosa. In this study, we characterized 13 strains that had been reported as ‘A. corymbifera (L. corymbifera)’ in the literature over an 11-year period. Microscopic examination of agar block smear preparations of all 13 strains showed abundant circinate side branches and pleomorphic giant cells with finger-like projections of L. ramosa. ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 rRNA gene cluster (internal transcribed spacer (ITS)) and partial elongation factor-1alpha (EF1α) gene sequencing showed that all 13 strains were clustered with L. ramosa; partial β-actin gene sequencing showed that most of the 13 strains were clustered with L. ramosa; and partial 28S rRNA gene sequencing showed that all 13 strains were clustered with L. ramosa, but one strain of L. corymbifera (HKU25) was also clustered with other strains of L. ramosa. A significant number of reported A. corymbifera (L. corymbifera) infections are L. ramosa infections which are of global distribution. In clinical microbiology laboratories, L. ramosa should be suspected if an Absidia-like mold that possesses abundant circinate side branches on the sporangiophores and pleomorphic giant cells with finger-like projections is observed. ITS and partial EF1α gene sequencing are more reliable than partial β-actin and 28S rRNA gene sequencing for identification of the Lichtheimia species.

Keywords:

• fungus
• identification
• infection
• ITS sequencing

This work is partly supported by the HKSAR Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases of the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, a Research Grants Council Grant, University Development Fund and the Committee for Research and Conference Grant, The University of Hong Kong. We thank S Alfandari, J Guarro and S J Taj-Aldeen for providing us with their 13 fungal strains.

Notes

Abbreviation: NA, not available.