[Myositis caused by Pleistophora in a patient with AIDS].

The third case in the literature is reported of an infection produced by Pleistophora. The clinical detail of the three cases are discussed. Two of the patients-including the reported one-were infected by HIV. All patients suffered from myositis with fever, resting and at palpation myalgia, and progressive weakness. Blood tests showed anaemia and high levels of muscle enzymes. Necrotic muscle fibrosis induced disabling contractures. Diagnosis was obtained by detecting the protozoon in a muscle biopsy. The spores may be detectable by means of different staining methods at light microscopy although electron microscopy remains the most reliable technique. Since this is such a rare condition there is no known treatment. Whether the albendazole could be as useful as occurs in patients infected by other genera of microsporidia in still uncertain.