PAC548 Mycology + Parasitology

What type of fungi is Candida albicans?

Oval yeast; forms hyphae

What type of fungi is Candida auris?

Oval yeast; multidrug resistant

What type of fungi is Dermatophyte (Tinea)?

Filamentous fungi; forms hyphae

What type of fungi is Cryptococcus neoformans?

Oval, budding yeast

What type of fungi is Aspergillus fumigatus?

Mold

What type of fungi is Coccidioides spp.?

Dimorphic: mold in soil, spherule (yeast) in tissue

What type of fungi is Histoplasma capsulatum?

Dimorphic: mold in soil, yeast in tissue

What type of fungi is Blastomyces spp.?

Dimorphic: mold in soil, yeast in tissue

What type of fungi is Pneumocystis jirovecii?

Unusual fungus with yeast and protozoan features

What type of parasite is Entamoeba histolytica?

Unicellular protozoan; motile trophozoite and nonmotile cyst

What type of parasite is Giardia lamblia?

Unicellular protozoan; motile trophozoite and nonmotile cyst

What type of parasite is Cryptosporidium hominis?

Unicellular protozoan; oocysts release sporozoites and merozoites

What type of parasite is Trichomonas vaginalis?

Unicellular protozoan; motile trophozoite only

What type of parasite causes malaria?

Unicellular protozoan (Plasmodium spp.); sporogonic and exo-erythrocytic

What type of parasite is Toxoplasma gondii?

Unicellular protozoan; motile trophozoite and nonmotile cyst

What type of organism is Naegleria fowleri / Acanthamoeba?

Free-living amoeba; trophozoite and cyst forms

What type of parasite is Babesia microti?

Unicellular protozoan; erythrocytic and sporogenic

What type of parasite is Taenia solium/saginata?

Multicellular tapeworm (Platyhelminth, Cestoda class)

What type of parasite is Schistosoma spp.?

Multicellular blood fluke (Platyhelminth, Trematoda class)

What type of parasite is Enterobius vermicularis?

Multicellular roundworm (Nematode)

What type of ectoparasite are lice?

Multicellular insects (Arthropods) with 6 legs and chitinous exoskeleton

What type of ectoparasite are bedbugs?

Multicellular insects (Arthropods) with 6 legs and chitinous exoskeleton

What type of ectoparasite causes scabies?

Multicellular arachnid (Arthropod) with 8 legs and chitinous exoskeleton

What disease is caused by Candida albicans?

Candidiasis: thrush, vaginitis, diaper rash, chronic mucocutaneous infections, candidemia, endocarditis, endophthalmitis

What disease is caused by Candida auris?

Candidemia; mainly hospital-acquired

What disease is caused by Dermatophyte fungi?

Dermatophytoses (Tinea capitis, corporis, cruris, pedis, unguium, versicolor)

What disease is caused by Cryptococcus neoformans?

Cryptococcosis: meningitis, pneumonia, subcutaneous nodules

What disease is caused by Aspergillus fumigatus?

Aspergillosis: allergic bronchopulmonary disease, fungus balls, brain abscesses, sinusitis, skin/wound infections

What disease is caused by Coccidioides spp.?

Coccidioidomycosis: lung infection, fever, cough, erythema nodosum, osteomyelitis, meningitis

What disease is caused by Histoplasma capsulatum?

Histoplasmosis: pneumonia, cavitary lung lesions, disseminated disease (pancytopenia, tongue ulcers, meningitis)

What disease is caused by Blastomyces spp.?

Blastomycosis: acute/chronic pneumonia, disseminated granulomas in skin, bone, joints

What disease is caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii?

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), especially in immunocompromised

What disease is caused by Entamoeba histolytica?

Amebic dysentery: bloody diarrhea, liver abscess, brain/lung abscesses, flask-shaped ulcers

What disease is caused by Giardia lamblia?

Giardiasis: foul-smelling watery diarrhea, malabsorption, flatulence, cramping

What disease is caused by Cryptosporidium hominis?

Cryptosporidiosis: persistent watery diarrhea, fluid loss (esp. in immunocompromised)

What disease is caused by Trichomonas vaginalis?

Trichomoniasis: yellow-green vaginal discharge, itching, strawberry cervix; urethritis in men

What disease is caused by Plasmodium spp.?

Malaria: cyclical fevers, hemolytic anemia, hepatosplenomegaly

What disease is caused by Toxoplasma gondii?

Toxoplasmosis: encephalitis in AIDS, congenital disease (chorioretinitis, calcifications, seizures, ID)

What disease is caused by Naegleria fowleri?

Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM): rapidly fatal brain infection

What disease is caused by Acanthamoeba?

Keratitis in contact lens wearers; encephalitis in immunocompromised

What disease is caused by Babesia microti?

Babesiosis: fever, hemolysis, jaundice, renal failure; coinfection with Lyme and Anaplasma

What disease is caused by Taenia solium/saginata?

Taeniasis: GI symptoms; Cysticercosis: brain lesions, seizures, uveitis, muscle cysts

What disease is caused by Schistosoma spp.?

Schistosomiasis: “swimmer’s itch,” liver/bladder granulomas, portal HTN, hematuria

What disease is caused by Enterobius vermicularis?

Pinworm infection: perianal itching at night

What disease is caused by lice (Pediculus/Phthirus)?

Pediculosis: pruritus and excoriations from scratching (head, body, pubic)

What disease is caused by bedbugs?

Bedbug bites: itchy wheals from saliva

What disease is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei?

Scabies: pruritic rash in creases (wrists, groin, fingers); crusted dermatitis in immunocompromised

What are the major virulence factors of Candida albicans?

Ability to form hyphae; resistance to azoles

What are the major virulence factors of Candida auris?

Multidrug resistance: fluconazole, amphotericin B, some echinocandins; pan-resistant strains emerging

What are the major virulence factors of Dermatophyte fungi?

Hyphae invade keratinized tissues

What are the major virulence factors of Cryptococcus neoformans?

Polysaccharide capsule (not listed explicitly, but known)

What are the major virulence factors of Aspergillus fumigatus?

Airborne conidia; tissue invasion; forms fungus balls

What are the major virulence factors of Coccidioides spp.?

Dimorphic nature; spherule formation in tissue

What are the major virulence factors of Histoplasma capsulatum?

Production of bicarbonate/ammonia to inactivate enzymes and evade phagolysosomes

What are the major virulence factors of Blastomyces spp.?

Dimorphic transition and yeast phase virulence (not listed explicitly)

What are the major virulence factors of Pneumocystis jirovecii?

Major surface glycoprotein (Msg); cholesterol in cell membrane

What are the major virulence factors of Entamoeba histolytica?

Trophozoites secrete enzymes that cause necrosis of colonic epithelium

What are the major virulence factors of Giardia lamblia?

Adhesive suction disc for attachment; resistance to gastric acid (not directly listed)

What are the major virulence factors of Cryptosporidium hominis?

Oocysts release sporozoites → trophozoites → meronts → merozoites for extensive replication

What are the major virulence factors of Trichomonas vaginalis?

Flagella motility; adherence to vaginal/prostate epithelium

What are the major virulence factors of Plasmodium falciparum?

Chloroquine resistance; infected RBC adherence to endothelium (not listed explicitly)

What are the major virulence factors of Toxoplasma gondii?

Tissue cyst formation; immune evasion mechanisms

What are the major virulence factors of Naegleria fowleri?

Ability to cross cribriform plate and enter CNS

What are the major virulence factors of Acanthamoeba castellanii?

Invasion through skin/eye trauma; granulomatous inflammation

What are the major virulence factors of Babesia microti?

Infects RBCs; immune evasion (not listed directly but implied by hemolysis)

What are the major virulence factors of Taenia solium?

Scolex with suckers/hooks; cysticercus formation in tissues

What are the major virulence factors of Schistosoma spp.?

Immune evasion by coating surface with host antigens

What are the major virulence factors of Enterobius vermicularis?

Highly resistant cuticle; nighttime egg-laying on perianal skin

What are the major virulence factors of lice?

Resistance to permethrin

What are the major virulence factors of bedbugs?

Saliva induces hypersensitivity; hides in bedding

What are the major virulence factors of Sarcoptes scabiei?

Burrows into skin; highly contagious via direct contact/fomites

How is Candida albicans transmitted?

Endogenous yeast from skin, GI tract, and vagina; enters bloodstream via IV drug use or catheters

How is Candida auris transmitted?

Endogenous flora of skin, nares, rectum; nosocomial spread

How is Dermatophyte fungi transmitted?

Direct contact with infected individuals or surfaces

How is Cryptococcus neoformans transmitted?

Inhalation of spores; exposure to bird droppings

How is Aspergillus fumigatus transmitted?

Inhalation of airborne conidia

How is Coccidioides spp. transmitted?

Inhalation of windborne arthrospores; endemic in SW US and Latin America

How is Histoplasma capsulatum transmitted?

Inhalation of spores from soil or bird/bat droppings; endemic in Ohio and Mississippi river valleys

How is Blastomyces spp. transmitted?

Inhalation of conidia from soil; endemic in North America

How is Pneumocystis jirovecii transmitted?

Inhalation of airborne cysts; especially in immunocompromised

How is Entamoeba histolytica transmitted?

Fecal-oral route; ingestion of cysts from contaminated food, water, or anal-oral sex

How is Giardia lamblia transmitted?

Fecal-oral route; ingestion of cysts from water, food, or anal-oral sex

How is Cryptosporidium hominis transmitted?

Fecal-oral route; contaminated water, food, swimming; human and cattle reservoirs

How is Trichomonas vaginalis transmitted?

Sexual contact (primarily vagina and prostate colonization)

How is malaria (Plasmodium spp.) transmitted?

Bite of female Anopheles mosquito; can also be transplacental or via blood

How is Toxoplasma gondii transmitted?

Ingestion of oocysts (from cat feces), undercooked meat, or via placenta

How is Naegleria fowleri transmitted?

Inhalation through nose while swimming in warm freshwater; crosses cribriform plate

How is Acanthamoeba castellanii transmitted?

Entry via skin wounds or contact lens contamination

How is Babesia microti transmitted?

Tick bite (Ixodes scapularis); mammals are reservoirs

How is Taenia solium/saginata transmitted?

Ingestion of undercooked pork (T. solium) or beef (T. saginata); eggs in feces

How is Schistosoma spp. transmitted?

Penetration of skin by free-swimming cercariae in freshwater

How is Enterobius vermicularis transmitted?

Ingestion of eggs from contaminated hands, surfaces, or clothing (fecal–oral)

How are lice transmitted?

Direct contact or via fomites (combs, hats, bedding); sexual contact for pubic lice

How are bedbugs transmitted?

Contact with contaminated bedding, furniture, or clothing

How is Sarcoptes scabiei transmitted?

Prolonged skin-to-skin contact or shared clothing/fomites

How does Candida albicans infection present?

Thrush, vaginitis, diaper rash, intertrigo, chronic mucocutaneous infection; bloodstream infections cause candidemia, endocarditis, endophthalmitis

How does Candida auris infection present?

Candidemia, especially in hospitalized or immunocompromised patients

How do dermatophyte infections (tinea) present?

Inflamed, itchy, circular lesions with papules/vesicles; affects scalp, body, groin, feet, nails, or skin pigmentation (versicolor)

How does Cryptococcus neoformans infection present?

Meningitis, pneumonia, subcutaneous nodules (disseminated); common in immunocompromised