SYSTEMIC MYCOSES

Dimorphic Fungi

Caused by

Inhalation

Acquired thru

Lung

Organ Affected

Molds

Infectious form

Yeast

Diagnostic form

Blastomyces dermatidis

North American blastomycosis / Chicago disease /

Gilchrist disease / Missouri River Valley

Coccidioides immitis

C. posadasii

San Joaquin Valley Fever

Desert Fever

Histoplasma capsulatum

Darling’s Disease / Histoplasmosis / Mississippi Valley Disease / Cave Disease / Spelunker Disease / Reticuloendothelial cytomycosis

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

South American Blastomycosis / Lutz-Splendore-Almedia Disease

Mold form of B. dermatitidis

Round/oval, smooth conidia on short lateral branches ("lollipops")

Yeast form of B. dermatitidis

Large yeast with single bud on a broad base

Mold form of C. immitis/ C. posadasii

Barrel-shaped arthroconidia separated by clear disjunctor cells

Yeast form of C. immitis/C. posadasii

Appears like thick-walled spherule containing many endospores

Mold form of H. capsulatum

Large, knobby tuberculate macroconidia with finger-like projections

Yeast form of H. capsulatum

Small oval yeast found intracellularly within monocytes/macrophages

Mold form P. brasiliensis

Septate hyphae with terminal of intercalary chlamydoconidia and rare pyriform conidia

Yeast form of P. brasiliensis

Large yeast with multiple buds (Mickey Mouse cap, Mariner’s /Ship’s wheel, Navigator’s/Pilot’s wheel appearance)

EXO ANTIGEN TEST

Test for systemic mycoses

B. dermatitidis

Specific A bands

H. capsulatum

H&M bands