Fungi Flashcards
What is Mycotoxicosis?
The poisoning of humans and animals by food contaminated by fungal toxins
What is Mycetismus?
the ingestion of preformed toxins in poisonous mushrooms.
Why are fungi infections so hard to treat?
They are eukaryotes. any compounds that kill fungi also harm the eukaryotic animal host.
How do fungi grow?
Aerobically
What does aerobically mean?
using oxygen
Which fungi are multicellular?
Moulds
Which fungi are unicellular?
Yeasts
Give an example of multicellular fungi
Dermatophytes (ringworm)
give example of unicellular fungi
Malassezia
pachydermatis
canidida albicans
what is a Mycosis infection?
a disease cause by and infection with fungus such as ringworm or thrush
What is Aspergillosis?
a fungal infection that is found worldwide in almost all domestic animals and many wild species. It is a primary respiratory infection that may become generalised
What usually causes aspergillosis in dogs?
Aspergillus fumigatus
Where might aspergillosis affect a dog?
typically localised to the nasal cavity, but can cause destruction of the nasal turbinates. Severe infection can affect the orbit.
Which breeds of dog are more susceptible to Aspergillosis?
Dolichocephalic
What are the signs of Aspergillosis infection?
Bloody nasal discharge, nasal pain, sneezing, ulceration surrounding the nostrils, nosebleeds
What is Candidiasis?
A localised fungal disease affecting the mucous membranes, the skin and the gastrointestinal tract
what is Candidiasis commonly caused by?
Candida albicans (yeast-like fungus)
What factors can make an animal more susceptible to candidiasis?
injury to any of the mucous membranes,
the use of catheters,
administration of antibiotics,
immunosuppressive drugs or dieases
What are the signs of candidiasis?
variable and nonspecific
Diarrhoea, weakness, skin lesions
What is Cryptococcosis?
A fungal disease that may affect the reparatory tract, central nervous stem, eyes and skin
What is the common cause of Cryptococcosis?
Cryptococcus neoformans
Where is cryptococcus neoformans often found?
worldwide in soil and bird manure, especially the droppings of pigeons
how is cryptoccosis transmitted?
inhalation of spores or contamination of wounds
What animals are more at risk of developing cryptococcosis?
Immunosuppressed animals
What is Malassezia?
a yeast infection found on animals skin and ears. it is an overgrowth of yeast that leads to dermatitis or inflammation of the affected ares.
What is the common cause of Malassezia?
no one knows
what are the signs of malassezia?
skin irritations that can be smelly
Skin becoming greasy or turning red or black
the skin is very sore and itchy
What is Asexual reproduction?
Passing on the traits of a single parent to the offspring - all offspring are identical to each other
What is sexual reproduction?
Always involves meiosis this is the process by which the nucleus divides in all sexually reproducing organisms during the production of spores or gametes
What is Mucelium?
the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting or a network of fine white filaments
What is a spore?
A reproductive particle, usually a single cell, released by a fungus alga, or plant that may germinate into another
What does homothallic mean?
male and female reproductive structures are present in the same plant or fungal mycelium
What are some types of asexual reproduction of fungi?
Fragmentation
Budding
Producing spores
What are some types of sexual reproduction of fungi?
Homothallic or heterothallic mycelia
