Fungi: Identification and Classification in Mycology Part 2

Flashcards on Fungi Identification and Classifications in Mycology Part 2

Mycosis

Any fungal infection

Systemic Mycoses

Deep within the body, affects many tissues and organs, infection started with Lungs, not contagious. Ex: histoplasmosis & Coccidioidomycosis

Histoplasmosis

Ohio Valley Fever, a systemic mycosis caused by inhaling conidia, causing primary pulmonary infection to systemic disease

Coccidioidomycosis

Valley Fever, a systemic mycosis, inhaled arthrospores from dusts, forms spherules forming nodules in lungs

Subcutaneous mycoses

Beneath the skin, saprophytic, live in soil & vegetation (plants). Ex: Sporotrichosis – by gardeners & farmers thru skin wound

Sporotrichosis

Rose-gardener’s disease, a subcutaneous mycosis, from infected wound, forms nodules & spread to lymph nodes, even lungs

Mycetoma

Soil microbes accidentally implanted into skin thru wound; Skin develops nodule (lump), pus & grain coming out, caused by Madurella

Cutaneous mycoses/dermatomycoses

Tineas or ringworm; Dermatophytes: fungi that infect (stratum corneum) epidermis, hair, and nails; Dermatophytes secrete keratinase (degrades keratin of hair, skin & nails)

Dermatophytes

Fungi that infect the stratum corneum, epidermis, hair, and nails.

Tinea Capitis

Ringworm of scalp, elementary children (bald patches, infection tend to expand circularly)

Tinea cruris

Groin, or jock itch

Tinea pedis

Feet or athletes foot

Tinea unguium/Onychomycosis

Nails

Superficial mycoses

Localized along hair shafts & superficial (surface) epidermal cells, prevalent in tropical climates

Opportunistic pathogen

Harmless in normal habitat but pathogenic when host is traumatized, under antibiotic treatment, or immune suppressed

Aspergillosis

Inhalation of Aspergillus fumigatus spores in lung disease patients, or cancer & babies

Yeast Infections or Candidiasis

Caused mainly by Candida albicans

Cryptococcus neoformans

Urease test positive, seen in AIDS patients, meningitis, skin lesions

Ringworm (Tinea)

Portal of entry: skin, MOT/transmission: direct contact, fomites

Sporotrichosis

Portal of Entry: skin abrasion, MOT: Soil

Candidiasis

Portal of Entry: Skin; mucous membranes, MOT: endogenous infection, change in pH

Cryptococcus neoformans

Inhalation in soil with pigeon droppings, infection of lungs (subclinical) but spreads thru the body in the bloodstream including brain & meninges (chronic meningitis) in Patients with steroid & immunosuppressed individuals

Malassezia furfur

Causes tinea versicolor, skin infection with superficial brown scaly areas, lesions in trunk, arms, shoulders, and face

Trichosporon beigelii

Causes white piedra in immunocompromised infections, yellow to brown aggregations around hair shafts of the body, even in scalp regions