Common Questions/Mistakes

Question 1

What is the most common systemic mycosis that causes CNS disease?

Answer 1

Cryptococcus

Question 2

How is Histoplasmosis disseminated throughout the body?

Answer 2

Macrophages

Question 3

Drug of choice for treatment for Cryptococcus

Answer 3

Fluconazole

Question 4

Drug of choice for Blastomycosis?

Answer 4

Itraconazole

Fluconazole may be used if there is CNS or occular involvement

Question 5

What are the 3 most common locations to find evidence of Blastomycosis?

Answer 5

Respiratory
Cutaneous
Occular

Question 6

What organism is responsible for Blastomycosis?

Answer 6

Blastomyces dermatitidis

Question 7

What organism is responsible for Cryptococcosis?

Answer 7

Cryptococcus neoformans (pigeon feces)
Cryptococcus gattii (landscaping mulch)

Question 8

How do you diagnose Cryptococcus?

Answer 8

Cytology - Fried egg

Question 9

How do you diagnose Histoplasmosis

Answer 9

cytology

Question 10

What is the drug of choice for Histoplasmosis?

Answer 10

Itraconazole

Question 11

What is the organism responsible for coccidiomycosis?

Answer 11

Coccidioides immitis

Question 12

Where is the US is Coccidiomycosis found most comonly?

Answer 12

Southwest US

Question 13

Where on the body will you most likely find coccidiomycosis cutaneous lesions?

Answer 13

over a boney structure

Question 14

In regards to coccidiomycosis, what species is most common to have cutaneous lesions? What species are clinical signs most comon in general

Answer 14

cat- cutaneous lesions

Dog- clinical signs in general

Question 15

What is the drug of choice for treating a coccidiomycosis case

Answer 15

Fluconazole

Question 16

How do you diagnose a Coccidiomycosis case?

Answer 16

History of travel is huge

Antibody titers are helpful. IgM indicates an active disease. IgG indicates exposure

Question 17

If a dog has a history of traveling to Arizona and comes to your clinic coughing, what is the main differential on your list related to fungal infections?

Answer 17

Coccidomycosis

Question 18

What is valley fever

Answer 18

coccidiomycosis

Question 19

What are the most comon areas to find Sporotrichosis lesions in the dog, humans and cats

Answer 19

Dog- cutaneous
Humans- lymphocutaneous
Cats- disseminated

Question 20

What organism is responsible for Sporotrichosis?

Answer 20

sporothrix schenckii (direct innoculation)

Question 21

What fungal mycosis is a concern for zoonosis?

Answer 21

Sporotrichosis
this is a concern because no injury may have occurred. This can be transmitted by coming into contact with exudate, wounds or trauma.

Question 22

How do you diagnose Sporotrichosis?

Answer 22

These will be found on cytology within macrophages.

Question 23

how do you treat a dog with sporotrichosis?

Answer 23

potassium iodide or itraconazol

Question 24

How do you trat a cat with sporotrichosis?

Answer 24

Itraconazole

Question 25

What organism causes pythiosis?

Answer 25

Pythium insidiosum

oomycete -> zoospore -> form germ tubes that facilitate tissue invasion by hyphal elements.

Question 26

How are oomycetes different than true fungi?

Answer 26

Cell wall composition is primarily made of cellulose and B-glucan. they lack chitin and ergosterol

Question 27

What forms of disease can you get of Pythiosis?

Answer 27

cutaneous and GI- cutaneous is most common.

solitary ulcerative nodules with draining tract.

Question 28

How do you diagnose pythiosis?

Answer 28

histopathology- presence of hyphal ghosts

Cytology will show pyogranulomatous inflammation with a lot of eosinophils, but histopathology is best

Question 29

How do you treat pythiosis?

Answer 29

Wide surgical excision or amputation.

This should be combined with antifungal therapy such as Echinocadins or Itraconazole + terbinafine