Disseminated histoplasmosis in an HIV-infected patient discovered by routine blood smear staining.

The article reports that Histoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic fungus of the Ascomycetes class. Histoplasmosis is the most common endemic mycosis in the U.S. and has emerged as an important opportunistic infection among patients with HIV living in or visiting endemic areas. Although H. capsulatum has a worldwide distribution, it is more prevalent in certain parts of North America, Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. Histoplasmosis is a rare opportunistic infection in Europe, but it must be included in the differential diagnosis of opportunistic infections in HIV-infected patients, mainly if they are returning from endemic areas.