FUNGAL INFECTION (MYCOLOGY – FUNGI)

Life Cycle: (2 phases)

Characteristics of Fungi: - growth phase
- Body - reproductive phase
o long filament of hyphae which form
mycelium Types of Fungi:
- chitin - there are 5 phyla of fungi
o hard structure of cell walls that o Chytridiomycota
composed of carbohydrates o Zygomycota
- lacks chlorophyll o Glomeromycota
- heterotrophic eukaryotes o Ascomycota
- major decomposer o Basidiomycota
- Yeast
Parts o cryptococcal-meningitis
- Hyphae o onychomycosis
o intertwined filaments of cells - Mold
- Mycelium o Rhizopus stolonifera
o a thick mass of hyphae
o cottony & rough in texture; seen by Fungal Skin Infections
naked eyes - Superficial Mycoses
o highly branched with reproductive o Tinea Versicolor
structure o Tinea nigra
- Conidia
o asexually produced fungal spore TINEA VERSICOLOR (Pityriasis Versicolor)
o most conidia are dispersed by the - E. Agent:
wind and can endure extremes of o Malassezia furfur (Pityrosporum
cold, heat, and dryness orbiculare)
- Spores: - Fungus interefers with the normal
o microconidia pigmentation of the skin
o macroconidia - Lab dx:
o spaghetti and meatballs like
Growth: appearance in the microscope
- heterotrophic - S/s:
o nutrients acquired through o Hypo/Hyperpigmentation
absorption o lesions:
o feeding on dead organic matter  irregular, discrete,
o others live on plants/animals hypo/hyper pigmented
causing disease macules depending on skin
o aerobic – except facultative yeast color of indv.
- grows best in 25 degrees C—if pathogenic  scaly w/ dry, chalky
fungi, grows also in 37 degrees C. appearance on face, neck,
- psychrophilic fungi grows at 5 degrees C trunk, and arm
(found in refs) - Dx procedure:
- lives in mild acidic conditions—occurs in o direct microscopy of skin scraping
sour cream, applesauce, citrus fruits, - Tx:
yogurt, acidity of bread, cheese o application of keratolytic agents w/
selenium disulfide
 o salicylic acid o lesion has reddish border, & central
o topical antifungal drugs like clearing
ketoconazole o there may be inflammatory scaling
o anti-dandruff dry scalp tinea - Hair
o can be:
CUTANEOUS MYCOSES or Dermatophytosis  arthroconidia – outside the
- fungal infection of keratinized body hair shaft
structures (nail, hair, skin)  endothrix – arthroconidia are
- 3 genus of Dermatophytes: inside the hair shaft
o Trichophyton – infects skin, hair, &  favic - formed inside the hair
nails but w/ “honeycomb” pattern
o Microsporum – infects hair & nails or resembling a favic
only chandelier
o Epidermophyton – infects skin & - Dx:
nails only o specimen of skin or nail scraping or
- are keratinophilic & keratinolytic hair cuttings from affected area
- produces keratinase – an enzyme capable of o more fungi can be obtained from the
breaking down keratin borders of the lesions rather than
- Dermatophytosis Infection: the center
o infection of body surface o dx is based on:
o other name: tinea infection  clinical appearance of the
o tinea – latin word for “worm” lesion
- Types of Tinea (or ringworm)  direct microscopic exam
o Tinea Pedis  culture
 athlete’s foot - Tx:
 feet o antifungal drugs: azoles (miconazole,
o tinea capitis clotrimazole, econazole)
 ringworm of head (scalp)
o tinea cruris SUBCUTANEOUS MYCOSES
 groin/jock itch - infection initially involves deeper layers of
o tinea corporis dermis & subcutaneous tissue then later the
 body bones
o tinea unguium - MOT:
 nails o through traumatic inoculation into
o tinea manus the skin
 hands o infection is rare except
o tinea barbae sporotrichosis
 bear o infections are:
- Classification based on habitat:  Chromoblastomycosis
o zoophilic – from animals to humans  sporotrichosis
o geophilic – from soil to humans or  phaeohyphomycosis
animals  zygmycosis
o anthropophilic – from humans to  mycetoma (madura foot)
human - Sporotrichosis:
- Skin o aka “gardener’s disease” or “rose-
o has “ring worm” pattern thorn’s gardener disease”
o E. Agent:
  sprothrix schenckii – a  tumefaction
dimorphic fungus found in  granules
soil & decaying vegetation  draining sinus
o Lesions starts as small nodule then o is characterized by a symptomatic
later become ulcerative & pustular triad:
 2 weeks later becomes  swelling of affected area,
painless subcutaneous multiple sinus formation, &
nodules along lymphatic purulent discharge
drainage develops containing grain
o Lesions are sometimes present as o Classic triad:
verrucous lesions & misdiagnosed as  painless soft tissue swelling
malignancy of skin  draining sinus tracts
- Chromoblastomycosis  extrusion of grains
o E. Agent:
 are all dermaticeous fungi
namely: Exphiala, Fonseca,
Clasodporium, Phialophora,
& Rhinocladiella
o can resemble squamous cell
carcinoma
o introduced into tissues by trauma
(e.g., with thorns or splinters)
o Characterized by verrucous nodules
or plaques
o infection is insidious that can be
chronic
- Mycetoma or Mandura foot
o cause by True fungi (Eumycotic
mycetoma) or Actinomycetes
(actinomycotic mycetoma)
o History:
 first discovered in the
Mandura district of India in
1842; hence the term
Mandura foot.
o common cause of eumycotic
mycetoma: Phaoacremonium,
Madurella, Curvularia, & Fusarium
o Pathophysiology:
 typically present in
agricultural workers (hands,
shoulderns, and back) from
carrying contaminated
vegetation and other
burdens.
o frequently involves feet and hands
o hallmark triad of the disease: