Fungal and Parasitic Diseases Seen in Tissue Biopsies at a Tertiary Health Center in Southwest Nigeria in a Five-Year Period

Abstract

Aim: To describe the clinical and pathological features of the various fungal and parasitic diseases seen at our hospital over a five-year period. Study Design: This is a retrospective study of records of fungal and parasitic diseases. Place and Duration of Study: The study was done at the Department of Morbid Anatomy and Forensic Medicine of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife from January 2018 to December 2022. Methods: The tissue sections of each case went through routine processing in the histopathology laboratory. The slides of the sections were viewed using a simple binocular microscope. The slides were scanned using APERIO CS2 digital slide scanner. Results: Eight cases of fungal infections and eleven cases of parasitic infections were noted during the study period. Aspergillosis accounted for five of the fungal infections, while mucormycosis accounted for two nasal infections. Schistosomiasis accounted for six cases of parasitic infections. Conclusion:  Aspergillosis was the most diagnosed fungal infection while Schistosomiasis was the commonest parasitic infection. Digital stain separation could be an added tool in identification of fungal and parasitic stages in histological tissue sections.