Gastrointestinal manifestations of Talaromyces marneffei infection in an HIV-infected patient rapidly verified by metagenomic next-generation sequencing: a case report

BACKGROUND: The manifestation of Talaromyces marneffei infection in some HIV-infected patients may be atypical. Cases with gastrointestinal involvement have rarely been reported. It is hard to make a diagnosis when patients are lacking the characteristic rash and positive blood culture. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we described a patient living with HIV who complained of fever and abdominal pain, and was rapidly diagnosed with Talaromyces marneffei infection by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) using formalin-fixation and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples of omentum majus tissue. We also reviewed reported related cases. CONCLUSIONS: Talaromyces marneffei is an unusual cause of clinical presentations involving obvious abdominal pain and lower gastrointestinal bleeding, but can be included in the differential diagnosis. As an important diagnostic tool, the significance of mNGS using FFPE samples of lesions provides a more targeted diagnosis.