Aspergillus, Pneumocystis carinii, Pythium insidiosum

Question 1

What type of fungus are Aspergillus spp.

Answer 1

ubiquitous

Question 2

Aspergillosis is caused by what fungi and they produce what

Answer 2

Aspergillus fumigatus and A. flavus (and others) and they produce mycotoxins

Question 3

Transmission of Aspergillus

Answer 3

inhalation or ingestion of spores

Question 4

Aspergillosis pathogenesis

Answer 4

Conidia (spores) inhaled and alveolar macrophages usually kill or spores germinate and form hyphae and Neurtophils kill then but they can invade tissue if both those fail causing neutropenia

Question 5

Aspergillosis in birds- acute

Answer 5

Respiratory pathogen with serious economic concern- causes high morbidity and mortality in young birds inhaling conidia from contaminated litter (poor sanitation) resulting in Acute Avian Asperillosis (airsacculitis)

Question 6

Aspergillosis in birds- cronic

Answer 6

Disease of older poultry from moldy feed, seen fungus on surface of air sac at slaughter

Question 7

Aspergillosis in birds treatment

Answer 7

not cost effective

Question 8

Aspergillosis in Horses disease

Answer 8

Guttural Pouch Mycosis but may damage cranial nerves from there, may see difficulty swallowing (nerve defect), chronic nasal discharge and potential for profuse epistaxis which can cause death in minutes
Aspergillus infection in the cornea from external trauma to cornea

Question 9

Aspergillosis in dogs disease

Answer 9

Canine Nasal Aspergillosis caused by A. fumigatus which can result in destruction of nasal turbinate bones, will see bloody, purulent nasal discharge with facial swelling and pain and ulceration of nares
Canine Disseminated Aspergillosis caused by A. terreus usually because of immunosuppression but results in osteomyelitis and granulomas in many of the organs, poor prognosis

Question 10

Aspergillosis abortion?

Answer 10

possible late term abortions in cattle and horses

Question 11

Pneumocystis carinii was originally classified as what

Answer 11

a protozoan parasite

Question 12

Pneumocystis carinii features

Answer 12

sphere shaped fungus lacking in ergosterol in cell wall

Question 13

Pneumocystis carinii disease

Answer 13

pneumonia (PCP) usually in

**immunocompromised animals (foals with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency- SCID- no B or T cells)

Question 14

Pneumocystis carinii diagnosis

Answer 14

PCR and staining samples, unable to be cultured under normal conditions

Question 15

Pneumocystis carinii treatment

Answer 15

Antibiotics- trimethoprim/sulfa because it inhibits the dihydrofolate reductase enzyme
Antifungals not used often used but echinocandins will work because it has beta-glucans in cell wall

Question 16

Pythium insidiosum is what

Answer 16

Eukaryotic saprophytic microbe that lives in water and moist soil and is similar to fungi but lacks chitin and ergosterol in cell wall. Grows as mold on agar but hyphae are produced in vivo

Question 17

Pythium insidiosum is found where

Answer 17

in southeast US- tropical and subtropical climates

Question 18

Pythium insidiosum transmission

Answer 18

direct contact or ingestion of motile spores in fresh water

Question 19

Pythium insidiosum disease in what

Answer 19

Pythiosis aka Swamp Cancer- cutaneous or gastrointestinal disease in dogs and horses

Question 20

Equine pythiosis presentation

Answer 20

cutaneous form most common with nodular regions and draining tracts and presence of kunkers (large yellow and gritty coral like bodies in lesions made of eosinophils and hyphae of pythium

Question 21

Equine pythiosis treatment

Answer 21

agressive surgical resection

Question 22

Canine pythiosis presentation

Answer 22

GI disease most common but if cutaneous disease will see non healing lesions with drainage and a history of swimming in swampy water

Question 23

Canine pythiosis diagnosis

Answer 23

biopsy and staining

Question 24

Canine pythiosis treatment

Answer 24

surgical resection of affected GI tract, most antifungals no effect