Pythium species may infect plants, animals and humans. Certain conditions place humans at increased risk for pythiosis.
Risk factors for human pythiosis:
(1) hemoglobinopathy, especially thalassemia
(2) paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
(3) idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
(4) acute leukemia
(5) HIV infection
(6) farmer exposed to a swamp
(7) traumatic injury with environmental exposure
Human pythiosis can occur without identifiable risk factors (idiopathic).
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Specialty: Infectious Diseases
