Chandigarh: Mukormycosis, commonly known as black mushrooms, is known to occur in those affected by Covid, high doses of steroids and those who immunocompromised.
However, in the first case recorded in the country, healthy people who do not have covid or steroid intake contracted by this fungal infection caused by Cunninghamella species, which are rare in this country.
The researchers isolated the sample and found a new species, Cunninghamella Arunalokei –ned after the Head of PGI from the Department of Microbiology Prof.
Arunaloke Chakrabarthi.
They have saved cultural data and genes in the Dutch-based repository.
Until now, Cunninghamella species have three varieties.
It was first seen in the US, Japan and Sri Lanka.
This is the fourth variety found for the first time in this country.
In all varieties, including the new, the result is death.
This is the only chronic and slow developing species.
This study was published in the “Journal of Faki” by researchers from AIIMS Bhubaneswar and PGI.
“This is a new species of Cunninghamella, which is rarely seen in India.
The most common rhizopus.
Cunninghamella is difficult to treat when it causes infection.
This species isolated from patients in AIims Bhubaneswar.
In PGI, we analyzed the sample,” said Prof.
SM Rudramurthy, Department of Microbiology, PGI and one of the research writers.
He said, “It causes a chronic invasive infection.
We usually see the rapidly growing mushroom invasion but because of this new species, the patient continues to suffer relapse over the past two years.
Patients die later.
Patients do not immunocompromis (weak immune system).” Species This is named after PGI microbiologist.
“Prof.
Arunaloke is a mushroom man from South Asia because his work stands out in the field.
We can’t think of other names besides him,” said Prof.
Rudramurthy.
The researchers tried to find out how many fungi spread in the country and elsewhere.
Cunninghamella is largely found on the ground.