Lobomycosis in the Tropical Andes, Bolivia, 2022. Lobomycosis in the Tropical Andes, Bolivia, 2022

Lobomycosis, also known as lacaziosis, is a rare chronic fungal infection primarily involving the skin and subcutaneous tissues, caused by the dimorphic Onygenale fungus Paracoccidioides loboi. It is endemic to Central and South America, particularly within the Amazon rainforest although its precise geographical boundaries remain poorly delineated and appear to be expanding. (1) The first documented case of Lobomycosis in Bolivia was reported by Recaecochea and Vargas in 1982. (2) Since then, two additional cases have been reported, distributed mainly across the departments of Pando in Bolivia, in close proximity to Brazil. (5) Despite increasing case reports, gaps persist in understanding the eco-epidemiology and biogeographical aspects of lobomycosis, especially across the vast regions of the Andes. This report aims to contribute insights into the epidemiology and phylogeography of lobomycosis, highlighting the need for continued research to enhance our knowledge in the geographic reach of this intriguing fungal infection across the Andean region. We report a patient from Cobija, in the Pando department in Bolivia who had lobomycosis caused by Paracoccidioides (Lacazia) loboi.