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Emerging infection a concern for humans and animals
The emerging infection Lobomycosis, once rare, is now report in greater incidence in humans since the first reported in 1930. The infectious agent causing lobomycosis is an uncultivable yeast-like organism, (Lacazia loboi of the order Onygenales). The organism causes a chronic granulomatous fungal infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The first documentation of lobomycosis in humans was in Recife, Brazil. Although the disease is better documented in humans, scant reports of Lobomycosis indicates the diseases is becoming common to members of the dolphin family (Delphinidae). A further indication of the emergence of this disease is the reports of lobomycosis and lobomycosis-like disease in cretaceans indicating the disease is able to move to other species. The spread of the disease to other species may be due to environmental changes or pollution. In addition to the emergence of lobomycosis, the world faces the phenomenon of global warming that is associated with the deteriorating health of the planet.
Transmission and susceptibility
Recent reports of Lobomycosis transmission in humans have been associated with travel to Central and South America or contact with infected dolphins. The phenomenon of eco-tourism has increased the number of persons traveling to Central and South America to swim with the dolphins. The increasing susceptibility to lobomycosis among dolphins is unlikely explained by eco-tourism alone.
Incubation period and communicability
Data collection are insufficient on most of the cases which prevents defining the incubation period or period of communicability between species or in the marine environment. These and other cases clearly indicate that humans and dolphins are susceptible to lobomycosis yet the mode of transmission is not usually clear. Some research has identifies infected dolphins in association with waterways under assault from chemical pollutants in particular waterways contaminated with organo-chlorine pollutants.
Reservoirs
A strong associate with marine animals is more often reported in case studies indicating that marine environment as a likely reservoir for the fungi causing the infection. Some research find dissimilarity in lesion sizes between dolphins and humans and suggests the organism effecting humans may be different from that effecting dolphins. This sheds little light on understanding the communicability between humans and dolphins but suggest that both dolphins and humans are susceptible because of contact with the marine environment. Serologic data however indicates the same organism causes Lobomycosis in both humans and dolphins.
Occurrence
Since the infection first emerged in Brazil; the reports of Lobomycosis confirmed the infection as endemic to the areas of Central and South America. However, the occurrence of lobomycosis has not remained limited to the Americas, reports from Europe, Canada, United States, and South Africa has occurred in recent years. The Endemic human lobomycosis is associated with a tropical geographic and climate conditions. Tropical continental areas of the Americas are 200 to 250 m above sea level with an annual rainfall of greater than 2000 mm and a mean temperature of 24 degrees Celsius
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