Laboratory Experience in Phenotypic and Molecular Identification of Blastomyces dermatitidis First Isolated in Korea

Abstract

Blastomycosis, endemic in North America, has been hardly reported in Korea. We describe laboratory experience in phenotypic and molecular identification of Blastomyces dermatitidis first isolated in Korea. The patient was a 45-year-old male with pulmonary blastomycosis mimicking pulmonary tuberculosis. Diagnosis was based on culture and dimorphism combined with DNA target sequencing of internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and D1/D2 regions. (Korean J Clin Microbiol 2012;15:114-116)