Disseminated Protothecosis Due to Prototheca zopfii and Literature Review

Prototheca species are achlorophyllic algae that are a rare cause of infection in humans. It most commonly causes localized cutaneous disease and rarely disseminated infection. Immunocompromised patients have the highest risk of disseminated protothecosis, with a higher mortality rate than localized cutaneous infections. At the species level, infections caused by Prototheca zopfii are reported less frequently than those caused by Prototheca wickerhamii. The diagnosis can be made using histopathology, culture, and molecular testing. There is no definitive evidence for an effective treatment, which currently consists of antifungals (primarily amphotericin B). With only a handful of cases of disseminated protothecosis reported worldwide that are caused by P. zopfii, we herein present an additional case of a postbone marrow transplant patient in the Midwest of the United States.

Automated summary

Prototheca species are rare algae that can cause infection in humans. It typically manifests as localized cutaneous disease and can rarely become disseminated. Immunocompromised patients are at highest risk for disseminated protothecosis, which has a higher mortality rate than localized infections. Prototheca zopfii infections are reported less frequently than Prototheca wickerhamii infections. Diagnosis can be made using histopathology, culture, and molecular testing. Treatment options are not definitive, but antifungal drugs like amphotericin B are commonly used. We present an additional case of disseminated protothecosis caused by P. zopfii in a post-bone marrow transplant patient in the Midwest of the United States.