What is Rhinosporidiosis?

Rhinosporidiosis is chronic granulomatous parasitic infection caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi. The organism is now classified under mesomycetozoa as a parasite. It predominantly affects mucous membrane of nose and nasopharynx but other sites are also involved.

Is Rhinosporidium seeberi a bacteria?

The etiologic agent of rhinosporidiosis, Rhinosporidium seeberi, is an enigmatic microbe that has been difficult to classify. Recently, R. seeberi has been considered a fungus, but it was originally thought to be a protozoan parasite (2).

Can Rhinosporidium be cultivated?

Rhinosporidium seeberi, a fungus that is associated with polyp-like tumors in animals and man, was successfully cultivated. This organism stimulated proliferation of epithelial cells in vitro, producing polyp-like structures.

What is the causative agent of rhinosporidiosis?

The causative agent of rhinosporidiosis is a microscopic round body in polypoidal masses that is believed to be the sporangium of a fungus Rhinosporidium seeberi. But fungal aetiology can not be proved with certainty. Attempts to culture the fungus on various media have also been unsuccessful.

Which part of the body is affected by Mycetoma?

Mycetoma is a chronic disease usually of the foot but any part of the body can be affected. Infection is most probably acquired by traumatic inoculation of certain fungi or ‎bacteria into the subcutaneous tissue.

Is Rhinosporidium Seeberi a bacteria?

How is Rhinosporidium seeberi classified as a fungus?

Rhinosporidium seeberi, a microorganism that can infect the mucosal surfaces of humans and animals, has been classified as a fungus on the basis of morphologic and histochemical characteristics. Using consensus polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we amplified a portion of the R. seeberi 18S rRNA gene directly from infected tissue.

What should I do if I have Rhinosporidium seeberi?

R. seeberi can also affect the lacrimal gland and also rarely the skin and genitalia. Treatment is generally by surgical removal of the infected tissues. Povidone-iodine and antifungal drugs such as amphotericin B, dapsone, and silver nitrate have been suggested as possible antiseptics.

What kind of microorganism causes rhinosporidiosis?

Rhinosporidiosis is a rare, infectious, chronic granulomatous disease caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi, an endosporulating microorganism. It has recently been classified in the taxonomic group, mesomycetozoea, which is a group of microorganisms at the boundary between fish and fungi.

How is rhinosporidiosis not contagious to humans?

Rhinosporidiosis is caused by R. seeberi, which epidemiological evidence has found predominantly in stagnant water sources in tropical climates. Human-to-human transmission has not been identified, and therefore the disease is not considered contagious.