


Author: Dr Sharnika Abeyakirthi, Dermatology Registrar, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand, 2007.

Zygomycosis is a rare infection caused by a class of fungi called Zygomycetes. They are a relatively primitive class of fungi and live on decaying organic matter.

There are 2 orders of Zygomycetes:

  • Mucorales
  • Entomophthorales


Mucorales are rapidly growing fungi including two families, the Mucoraceae and Cunninghamellaceae. Mucorales usually causes infection in individuals with compromised immune systems due to drugs such as systemic steroids, and diseases such as lymphoma and poorly controlled diabetes. The fungi invade blood vessels and cause mucormycosis, an acute, rapidly spreading and fulminant systemic mycosis. Rhinocerebral (nose and brain), lung, gastrointestinal and abdomin-pelvic, cutaneous and widespread forms have been reported. The mortality rate is very high.

Cutaneous lesions from Mucorales are due to traumatic implantation or secondary to spread via the bloodstream to the skin. Mucorales infection may result in plaques, pustules and abscesses or necrotic, ulcerated lesions.

The most common species to cause zygomycosis is Rhizopus arrhizus (Rhizopus oryzae).


Entomophthorales produces slowly progressive chronic disease. There is no vascular invasion and the infection is generally restricted to subcutaneous tissue (subcutaneous zygomycosis).

There are species of 2 different genera:

  • Conidiobolus coronatus/incongruus
  • Basidiobolus ranarum

Clinical features of subcutaneous zygomycosis

There may be a history of trauma. Subcutaneous zygomycosis starts as a slowly progressive, painless, subcutaneous swelling. A single lesion or multiple satellite lesions may arise.

On palpation there is a uniform, disc shaped, movable lump. Characteristically it is non-pitting and hard in consistency. The overlying skin is normal in most cases. However, it can sometimes be tense, swollen, peeling or hyperpigmented but not ulcerated.

Clinical features show slight variations according to the species involved.

Conidiobolus sp.
  • Affects young adults, and is more common in males than females.
  • The face is the most common site of infection.
  • The fungi gain entry through the nasal mucosa and produce a subcutaneous swelling around nasal and perinasal region.
  • Infection can spread from the inferior turbinates to produce a generalized swelling of the face.
  • Patients can complain of nasal obstruction, discharge and sinus pain.
  • Pulmonary and systemic infection has been reported.
Basidiobolus ranarum
  • Usually seen in children, and is more common in males.
  • Often presents with a slowly progressive subcutaneous mass in the limb or limb girdle area.

How is the diagnosis made?

Diagnosis requires deep skin biopsy from the subcutaneous mass for histopathology and for microscopy and fungal culture.

  • Culture reveals fast growing fungi characterised by primitive mostly aseptate hyphae.
  • Culture at 30C confirms which organism is involved: Conidiobolus sp. will grow white to grey waxy colonies and Basidiobolus sp. will grow cream or yellow waxy colonies.

Care needs to be taken during the biopsy not to damage the fungi because non-viable organisms result in a negative culture result.

What is the treatment for zygomycosis?

Treatment is difficult and prolonged for both types of Zygomycosis and the results for Conidiobolus are particularly disappointing.

Therapies may include:

Unfortunately even surgical resection is rarely curative.

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