CO2026 fungus and parasites overview

Candida albicans

Asymmetrical budding yeast, pseudohyphae; common cause of invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised

Biofilm formation

Microbes forming a community on a surface

Survival inside phagocytes

Ability of microbes to survive inside immune cells

Endocarditis

Infection of heart valves

Intertrigo

Inflammation in skin folds, under breasts

Denture stomatitis

Inflammation of the oral mucosa due to dentures

KOH prep

Potassium hydroxide preparation for microscopic examination

Angular chelitis

Painful cracking at mouth corners

Malassezia furfur

Yeast causing skin conditions like tinea versicolor

Tinea Versicolor

Skin condition with discolored patches

Aspergillus spp.

Fungal species with acute branching hyphae

Mucor and Rhizopus

Fungi with nonseptate hyphae and right angle branching

Keratinase

Enzyme that breaks down keratin

Dermatophytes

Fungi causing skin infections like ringworm

Tinea pedis

Athlete's foot fungal infection

Blastomyces dermatiditis

Yeast causing blastomycosis, found in soil

Sporothix schenickii

Yeast causing sporotrichosis, cigar-shaped

Endemic

Native or restricted to a certain region

Dimorphic mold

Fungus existing in two forms based on environment

Adhesins

Surface proteins inhibiting immune cell activation

Sporotrichosis

Cigar-shaped yeast in patient sample

Leishmania donovani

Causes visceral leishmaniasis; transmitted by sandfly bites

Cutaneous Sporotrichosis

Starts as painless nodule at inoculation site; may evolve into ulcers along lymphatic tract

Promastigotes

Injected by sandflies during a bite; infectious form

Amastigotes

Form inside the body, infect macrophages, seen in cytoplasm

Sodium stibogluconate

Treatment for leishmaniasis

Amoebic Infection

Acanthamoeba spp. causing infections in soil, water, and indoor environments

Trypanosoma cruzi

Causes Chagas disease; transmitted by triatomine bug bites

Triatomine Bug

Also known as kissing bug; transmits T. cruzi; found in Latin America

Benznidazole

Treatment for Chagas disease

Trypomastigotes

Extracellular, motile form in peripheral blood; seen in T. cruzi infection

Flagellated Protozoan

Characterizes T. cruzi and Leishmania species

Vector-Borne Diseases

Require protection against vector bites and reduction of vector populations

Endemic Areas

Regions like Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Mediterranean Basin with high disease prevalence

Romana's Sign

Swelling around the eye at triatomine bug bite site; indicative of acute infection

Chagas Disease Symptoms

Include chest pain, arrhythmias, cardiomegaly, edema, abnormal heart sounds, and heart failure

Antigenic Variation

Occurs in surface proteins of T. cruzi and Leishmania for immune evasion

PCR

Diagnostic test for detecting genetic material of pathogens

Serology

Diagnostic test detecting antigens or antibodies in the blood

Protective Measures

Include proper wound care, monitoring pets, and avoiding sandfly/triatomine bug bites

Surface Protein

Allows survival inside macrophages for Leishmania and T. cruzi

Ameba

Trophozoite has a rounded, irregular shape; cyst form allows long-term survival in the environment.

Keratitis

Symptoms include redness, pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and tearing; if not promptly treated, permanent vision loss can occur.

Trichinella spiralis

Causes trichinellosis with symptoms like chronic muscle pain, weakness, stiffness, and swelling around the eyes.

Definitive hosts

Pig #1 and wild game; dead-end hosts are humans.

Albendazole or Mebendazole

Used for treatment; cook meat thoroughly or freeze if not consuming immediately.

Nematode

Trichinella spiralis is a type of nematode.

Onchocerca volvulus

Causes river blindness transmitted by blackflies; symptoms include thread-like adults, skin nodules, and microfilariae in skin and blood.

Ivermectin

Does not kill adult worms of Onchocerca volvulus; used for treatment along with doxycycline.

Blackfly

Vector for Onchocerca volvulus; bites inject larvae.

Loa loa

Causes loiasis with symptoms like Calabar swellings, rashes, and visible worm migration over the eye.

Deerfly/horsefly

Vector for Loa loa; bites inject larvae.

Loiasis

African eye worm disease caused by Loa loa; symptoms include visible worm migration over the eye and conjunctivitis.