Fungal Infection Flashcards
what are the 2 phyla of the fungus kingdom?
basidiomycota and ascomycota
how do fungi digest food?
EC, release enzymes do break dow biopolymers which are then boarded for nutrition
what disease types are caused by fungi?
clergies, mycotoxicoses, mycoses
what allergic diseases do fungal spores cause?
dermatitis, asthma, ABPA
what’s is mycotoxicosis?
toxic reaction caused by ingestion/inhalation of a mycotoxin (secondary metabolite of mould)
give examples of mycotoxin
aflatoxin - infects grain
psilocybin - magic mushrooms
amanita - breathing problems, dizziness, vomiting/diarrhoea, liver/kidney failure
what are the types of mycoses? explain each
superficial - skin/hair shaft, living tissue not invaded, no cellular response
cutaneous - produce EC enzymes which hydrolyse keratin, inflammation, dermatophytes
subcutaneous - chronic, localised, follows traumatic implantation of fungus
systemic - primary and opportunistic
give examples of each mycoses
superficial - black piedra/piedraia hortae, dandruff/malassezia globosa, tinea nigra
cutaneous - tinea capitis/scalp ringworm, tinea pedis/athletes foot
subcutaneous - sporotrichosis, chromoblastomycosis, mycetoma
what is candid albicans? where is it normally found? what does it cause?
opportunistic infection
GI, genito-urinary tracts, skin
superficial, mucosal or systemic infection
give characteristic of superficial candida infections
skin, mouth, vagina
easily treated
impaired epithelial function
give characteristic of mucosal candida infections
neonates and elderly
symptomatic
vaginal, mouth
give characteristic of systemic candida infections
risk factors include chemo, gut surgery, catheters
unhealthy individual
how are fungal infections diagnosed?
skin, sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, blood, vaginal swab, CSF, tissue biopsy
benefits of microscopy
quick, cheap
give limitations of culturing fungus
slow
prone to contamination
requires skilled sample collection
