Armadillo exposure and Hansen's disease: an epidemiologic survey in southern Texas.

Background: Naturally occurring leprosy has been demonstrated in wild nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus ). This suggests a possible mode of transmission of human leprosy in regions where armadillo contact is prevalent.

Objective: Our purpose was to study the possible relationship between armadillo exposure and Hansen's disease.

A new Brevibacterium sp. isolated from infected genital hair of patients with white piedra.

A new aerobic gram-positive non-sporeforming bacillus has been isolated from infected genital hair of patients with white piedra in association with Trichosporon beigelii. This species has been characterised morphologically, nutritionally, by DNA base composition, cell-wall analysis and cellular fatty-acid profile on the basis of 14 isolates. The G+C content of DNA is 63.

Cutaneous manifestations of histoplasmosis in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

The clinical and histologic features of cutaneous histoplasmosis in three patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are described. The patients presented with multiple discrete papules on the extremities, trunk, and face, some of which were follicular. Histologically, the skin biopsies were characterized by a sparse perivascular infiltrate with polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lymphocytes, and occasional histiocytes.

Prevalence of Trichosporon beigelii. Colonization of normal perigenital skin.

Although the natural habitat of Trichosporon species is considered to be the soil, the role of normal skin in the carriage of Trichosporon beigelii is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of T. beigelii colonization on normal perigenital skin.

White piedra: evidence for a synergistic infection.

To determine the relative roles of coryneform bacteria and Trichosporon beigelii in the pathogenesis of genital white piedra, scrotal hair from 10 subjects was studied. Hairs were examined by light microscopy to determine the relative proportions of each organism, and were also cultured for coryneforms and yeast. Histologically, hair nodules from five out of nine cases showed a mixture of yeasts and bacteria, four had bacteria alone, and none showed yeast alone.

Cutaneous cryptococcosis simulating Kaposi's sarcoma in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A forty-one-year-old homosexual man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and biopsy proven Kaposi's sarcoma of the oral cavity presented to our clinic with a several month history of violaceous papules and plaques on his trunk and extremities. Although the patient already carried a clinical diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma, several biopsies of skin lesions were performed. Tissue specimens demonstrated cutaneous infection with Cryptococcus neoformans.

Vesicular Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction.

The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is a self-limited, febrile episode that may occur following antibiotic therapy for syphilis. We report four cases of a heretofore unrecognized vesicular variant of the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. It is important to distinguish this phenomenon from an allergic drug eruption.

Comparison of cosmesis following healing by surgical closure and second intention.

When deciding on whether to surgically close a wound or allow granulation and epithelialization to occur, it is necessary to evaluate each patient individually. The patient's needs and desires, along with cost effectiveness, immediate versus delayed gratification, and convalescent time must all be considered. Also, the skill of the surgeon and the resources available to both the surgeon and the patient must be taken into consideration.