Fungi Flashcards
What is the study of fungi?
Mycology
What does myco mean?
fungi
What is the classification of fungi?
Kingdom Fungi
What is in the Kingdom Fungi?
Molds and yeasts.
What type of organism is yeast?
Unicellular fungi.
What type of organism is mold?
Multicellular fungi.
What do molds form?
Tubular filaments called hyphae.
What is a mycelium?
A tangles mass of hyphae.
What does mold look like?
Produces fuzzy looking colonies of growth.
Is mold aerobic or anerobic?
Mold is strictly aerobic.
Are molds Gram Pos. or Gram Neg.?
All of them are Gram Pos.
How do molds reproduce?
- Fragmentation of cells.
- Budding of cells (yeast).
- Producing spores.
Are mold spores resistant?
They are highly resistant, but not as resistant as bacterial spores.
What shape are mold spores?
Round or oval microscopic structures.
Is mold zoonotic?
Yes, all molds are.
What are fungi?
Saprophytes, the live on and prefer dead things.
-pathogenicity is accidental.
In what 3 ways does fungi cause disease?
- Systemic or Subcutaneous infection
- Mycotoxicoses (poisoning by fungi)
- Cutaneous Infections
What happens with systemic infections of fungi?
It directly invades healthy tissue.
What is another name for systemic / subcutaneous infections of fungi?
Deep Mycoses
When is it rare to see Deep Mycoses?
Extremely rare to see with mold.
Are fungi normally present in animals?
Yes. They cause disease when the host is very weak.
What is mycotoxicoses?
Poisoning by fungi.
What do fungi produce?
Toxic substances that cause disease when ingested.
What mainly causes mycotoxicoses?
Mainly caused by molds growing on feed stocks (stored grains).
What does mycotoxicoses do?
Cause subclinical symptoms of poor growth, depression, salivation, kidney, liver problems, etc.
What is another name for a cutaneous fungi infection?
Superficial Mycoses
Is Superficial Mycoses contagious?
Very! Spread by contact.
What fungi cause Superficial Mycoses?
Dermatophytes
What do Superficial Mycoses live on?
Dead tissues.
-hair, nails, outer layer of skin.
Does Superficial Mycoses cause an immune response?
It may not evoke an immune response from the host.
What does Superficial Mycoses cause?
Irritation
-itching, etc.
What are some common fungal infections?
- Yeast Infections
2. Dermatophytes
What are yeast infections?
Deep Mycoses
What is the disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformis?
Cryptococcosis
Who does Cryptococcosis infect and where?
Subacute or chronic disease of dogs, cats, farm animals, people.
What does Cryptococcosis cause?
Respiratory disease in dogs and cats.
Is Cryptococcosis more common in dogs or cats?
It is more common in cats, yet more severe in dogs.
What can Cryptococcosis cause in dogs?
CNS Diseases
How is Cryptococcosis spread?
Inhalation of bird droppings, especially pigeons.
Is Cryptococcosis susceptible to antibiotics?
No. Only to antimycotics.
How are most molds treated?
With anitmycotics.
Is Cryptococcosis zoonotic?
Yes.
What does Cryptococcosis do in humans?
- Mainly respiratory.
- May cause meningitis in immunocompromised patients.
How do humans contract Cryptococcosis infections?
Usually by contact with bird feces.
Do Dermatophytes penetrate the skin?
No. They only live on superficial dead skin.
What are Dermatophytes normally called?
Ringworm
What do Ringworm lesions look like?
They are typically circular.
In what 2 ways is Ringworm diagnosed?
- Looking at skin scrapings under a microscope or culturing them.
- Using a Wood’s lamp
What is a Wood’s lamp?
A fancy name for florescent light.
What happens when you put skin scrapings under a Wood’s lamp?
40% of them will fluoresce green.
What is the treatment for Ringworm?
Topical or internal antimycotics.
What is Microsporum canis
Main cause of ringworm in dogs and cats.
Where are ringworm lesions typically found?
Can be all over the body, mostly on head, ears, and eyes.
What do ringworm lesions look like?
Circular areas of hair loss with scaling and crusting.
Is ringworm zoonotic?
Yes, by direct contact.
