Kolkata man, a plant mycologist becomes world's 1st person to catch plant infection: report

In the first instance, a Kolkata man has been diagnosed with a fungal disease that typically affects plants, NDTV reported.

The patient, 61, whose name has been withheld is a Kolkata-based plant mycologist. Experts following the case have highlighted that maintaining close contact with plant fungi can spread in humans too.

A research study by Dr. Soma Dutta and Dr. Ujjwayini Ray of the Consultant Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals, Kolkata, a study published in the 'journal Medical Mycology Case Report' said that a man was admitted in a city hospital after suffering from a hoarse voice, fatigue and difficulties swallowing for three months. Interestingly, he had no medical history of HIV infection, diabetes or any other chronic disease.

However, the patient was involved with decayed material, mushrooms and various plant fungi for his research.

The experts in the study have revealed that Chondrostereum purpureum, a plant fungus that causes silver leaf disease in plants, infected the man. Conventional techniques like microscopy and culture failed to identify the fungus. Exposure to the decaying material may be responsible to cause this rare infection."

The patient is said to be normal after two years of treatment and there is no evidence of recurrence. as per the research report.