Abstract: Human protothecosis is a rare infection caused by Prototheca  spp., which are environmental achloric algae ubiquitously existing in nature. Members of the genus of Prototheca  usually cause localized infection that affects the skin or wounds. Systemic infection is extremely rare and tends to occur in immunocompromised patients. Here, we report a case of cutaneous protothecosis and meningitis due to Prototheca wickerhamii  in an immunocompetent teenager who obtained full-body tattoos at the time of infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of P. wickerhamii  isolated from both skin tissue and cerebrospinal fluid. The data contained in this report will increase our understanding of this pathogen and elucidate the most optimal treatment.
Keywords: Prototheca wickerhamii , cutaneous protothecosis, meningitis, immunocompetent