Collective outbreak of severe acute histoplasmosis in immunocompetent Chinese in South America: the clinical characteristics and continuous monitoring of serum cytokines/chemokines

BACKGROUND: Acute histoplasmosis is a rare fungal disease in China. This study is aimed to summarize the clinical characteristics of the first large-scale outbreak of imported acute histoplasmosis in Chinese, so as to provide suggestions for clinical diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: We collected the symptoms, signs, laboratory examination and imaging data of 10 patients in so far the biggest outbreak of imported acute histoplasmosis in immunocompetent Chinese. Their clinical characteristics and time-varying cytokine/chemokine levels were analyzed, and rank correlation analysis between these markers was utilized to show their condition. RESULTS: The 10 patients of imported acute histoplasmosis were working without any respiratory protection in an abandoned mine tunnel in Guyana. The most common symptoms were fever and cough. Their chest CT imaging showed multiple nodular shadows in lungs. Laboratory examination showed that at admission the CRP, PCT, LDH, CysC, G-test, β2-MG were all increased in at least 9 patients, and the CD4/CD8 was decreased to < 1 in all patients. Most cytokines/chemokines (other than IL-4, IL-12, INF-α, TNF-α) varied widely with patients and time, but their overall trend is higher at admission and decreasing gradually during hospitalization, especially for the IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IFN-γ. The LDH, CysC, G-test, β2-MG, N/L, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-27 are in positive associations to both CRP and PCT. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of acute histoplasmosis needs a comprehensive analysis of epidemiological history, clinical symptoms and signs, and results of imaging, laboratory, microbiological and pathological examinations. Although none of the CRP, PCT, G-test, N/L, LDH, CysC, β2-MG, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-γ shows specificity in the diagnosis of acute histoplasmosis, there is possibility that the above factors might help in the inflammation and prognosis estimation. However, more studies and further investigation are still required for the verification. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12875-022-01771-2.