Disseminated rhinosporidiosis following spontaneous regression of the possible primary lesion

Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic disease with a tendency to recur and occasional dissemination, caused by the organism Rhinosporidium seeberi. The taxonomy of this organism is controversial and is still evolving. R. seeberi is currently identified as a protistan parasite (broad group of eukaryotic unicellular organisms) and has been included in a novel class named Mesomycetozoea (1). The first case of rhinosporidiosis was reported from Argentina by Guillermo Seeber in 1900 and since then the disease has been reported from 70 countries around the world (1). This disease is highly endemic in India and Sri Lanka, particularly South India and the dry zone of Sri Lanka (1). In addition to humans, rhinosporidiosis has also been reported in domestic and farm animals (1). The natural habitat of R. seeberi is believed to be natural stagnant ground water and presumed mode of infection is through the traumatised epithelium (“transepithelial infection”). The most commonly affected site is nasal mucosa and nasopharynx (70%) followed by conjunctiva and lacrimal sac (15%); however, other sites such as lips, oral cavity, upper respiratory tract, perineum, rectum and skin are also occasionally affected (1).