Multicenter Case–Control Study of Behavioral, Environmental, and Geographic Risk Factors for Talaromycosis, Vietnam

Talaromycosis is a life-threatening fungal disease that primarily affects immunocompromised persons in Southeast Asia. We conducted a multicenter, case–control study recruiting participants with advanced HIV disease in Vietnam; 205 case-patients with culture-confirmed talaromycosis were matched to...

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Main Authors: Lottie Brown, Brian Jonat, Vo Trieu Ly, Nguyen Le Nhu Tung, Pham Si Lam, Nguyen Tat Thanh, Dang Thi Ngoc Bich, Vu Phuong Thao, Nguyen Thi Mai Thu, Ngo Thi Hoa, Thuy Le
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2025-07-01
Series:Emerging Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/7/25-0143_article
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Summary:Talaromycosis is a life-threatening fungal disease that primarily affects immunocompromised persons in Southeast Asia. We conducted a multicenter, case–control study recruiting participants with advanced HIV disease in Vietnam; 205 case-patients with culture-confirmed talaromycosis were matched to 405 control-patients by age, sex, and CD4 count. Occupational exposure to tropical plants (odds ratio [OR] 1.73 [95% CI 1.10–2.73]; p = 0.017) and to farmed animals (OR 2.07 [95% CI 1.20–3.55]; p = 0.009) were independent risk factors for talaromycosis. Talaromycosis risk was higher in participants from highland regions than in persons from lowland regions (p<0.05). Participants from lowland regions who had lived or traveled to highland regions had a higher risk for talaromycosis (OR 3.15 [95% CI 1.49–6.64]; p = 0.003). This study confirms the epidemiologic correlation between talaromycosis and soil exposure and demonstrates an epidemiologic link between talaromycosis and residence in or travel to highland regions of Vietnam.
ISSN:1080-6040
1080-6059