Pythiosis: una patología emergente en Venezuela.

Pythiosis is a disease that occurs in humans and other mammals, such as horses, canines andcattle. The etiologic agent is Pythium insidiosum, an aquatic oomycete present in variousgeographic regions of the world. The cutaneous granulomatous form and gastrointestinal arecommon clinical presentations which predominate in infected animals. The infection can spreadto other tissues (e.g. osseous and pulmonary). Human pythiosis has four clinical forms:cutaneous or subcutaneous, vascular, ocular and occasional anatomical sites may occur (e.g. brain). Cases in canines, bovines and equines have been reported in Venezuela. This articleupdated a review of the literature on the epidemiology, lifecycle of the etiological agent,pathogenesis, clinical presentation in animals and humans, diagnosis, treatment, and cases ofpythiosis in Venezuela.