Mayo Study: Rare Fungal Infection Found in Arizona

A rare fungal infection that can create a cancer like mass in the gastrointestinal tract has emerged in Arizona and other desert regions, Mayo Clinic researchers say. The fungus, basidiobolus ranarum, is found in soil, decaying organic matter and the gastrointestinal tracts of amphibians, bats, fish and reptiles. Scientists are unclear about how the fungus is transmitted to humans, but doctors theorize that people may become infected after digesting contaminated food or dirt.

Additional coverage: Tucson Citizen, News Medical, Infection Control Today