Imported endemic mycoses in Spain: Evolution of hospitalized cases, clinical characteristics and correlation with migratory movements, 1997-2014

Abstract

Endemic mycoses are systemic fungal infections. Histoplasmosis is endemic in all temperate areas of the world; coccidioidomycosis and paracoccidioidomycosis are only present in the American continent. These pathogens are not present in Spain, but in the last years there has been an increase of reported cases due to migration and temporary movements. We obtained from the Spanish hospitals records clinical and demographic data of all hospitalized cases between 1997 and 2014. There were 286 cases of histoplasmosis, 94 of Coccidioidomycosis and 25 of paracoccidioidomycosis. Overall, histoplasmosis was strongly related to HIV infection, as well as with greater morbidity and mortality. For the other mycoses, we did not find any immunosuppressive condition in most of the cases. Although we were not able to obtain data about clinical presentation of all the cases, the most frequently found was pulmonary involvement. We also found a temporal correlation between the Spanish population born in endemic countries and the number of hospitalized cases along this period. This study reflects the importance of imported diseases in non-endemic countries due to migratory movements. Histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis and paracoccidioidomycosis are infections produced by environmental fungi. Despite the fact that these pathogens are not found in Spain, these diseases are an important health problem in many countries of the world, especially in Latin America. Due to the increased migration from these countries in Spain in the last year, we have observed a rise in the number of new reported cases of these diseases. Nevertheless, they probably remain underestimated since it is likely that physicians do not initially suspect them, and their notification is not mandatory. People who travel to endemic countries are at risk to become infected as well. In this article we used data from the Spanish hospitals records with the aim to describe the main clinical and epidemiological characteristics of these endemic mycoses in Spain, and try to find a correlation between the growing Spanish population at risk and the number of cases hospitalized. This study contributes to have a more accurate knowledge about the burden of these diseases in Spain.