Misc. Fungal infections & Fungal wanna-bes Flashcards
What is the main characteristic of Zygomycets?
No septate
What fungi are in the Spaprophytic filamentous group?
Zygomycets
Hyaline fungus
Phaeoid/dematiaceous fungus
Who can get infected by saprophytic filamentous fungi?
Most animals species
T/F: Aspergillus is a slow growing mold
FALSE
fast growing mold
What is a common aspergillus spps seen in animals?
Aspergillus fumigatus
Where does aspergillus like to colonize in the body?
invades damaged tissue along blood vessels
Aspergillus causes what in canines and horses?
Nasal/sinus/guttural pouch infections
Aspergillus causes what in birds?
What does is cause in ruminants?
Avian = Respiratory infections (colonizes in air sacs)
Ruminants = Abortion
What does aspergillosis cause in German Shepherds?
Disseminated aspergillosis
T/F: You should wear a face mask/protective equipment when doing work that will disturb a compost pile
TRUE
Disturbing a compost pile and shake up and expose at lot of fungal spores to the air - exposing you to inhalation and infection
What factors will increase an animals susceptibility to aspergillus infection?
Stress, concurrent dz, poor diet, prolonged AB therapy, immunosuppressive therapy, dry/dusty conditions
What is one of the main features of mycotic abortions in ruminants?
Leathery skin lesions on the fetus and placentitis
T/F: Air sacculitis and caseous granulomatous pneumonia is a common infection of fungi in birds
true
“brooder pneumonia”
*Aspergillosis
What kind of pH does fungus grow in?
Grows well in low/acidic pH
*can infect rumen
Who does mycotic keratinitis occur in?
Horses - infection occurs after corneal abrasion
Can see hyphae in impression smear made from eye
T/F: Disseminated aspergillosis is limited to organs in the thorax
FALSE
can infect ANY organ!!!
What lesion may you notice on the exterior of a dog with a pneumonia caused by a aspergillus fungal infection?
loss of pigment on the nose
How do you dx apergillus?
Direct demonstration via microscope or culture
Prototheca is what kind of organism?
Achlorophyllous algae
***very prevalent in a warm, aquatic environment
What is the main clinical presentation of Prototheca in dogs?
*what is another FUNGAL agent that causes the same dz process?
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis
**histoplasma also presents as HGE in dogs
What does prototheca look like under the microscope?
Looks like a large yeast (large oval) with many segmented sections inside
T/F: Prototheca is an infectious organism
FALSE
It is an organism acquired from the environment - not transferred between hosts
Is prototheca easy or difficult to treat?
Not so easy
Can sometimes perform surgical excision - if there is a single cutaneous lesion
Antimicrobials are NOT successful - many animals are culled or euthanized
Oomycetes are _____ molds, that include Pythium insidiosum and Lagenidium
WATER
Oomycetes cause what form of dz in horses, cats, and people?
Cutaneous
Oomycetes cause what form of dz in dogs?
Cutaneous and GI
What organism causes swamp cancer in horses?
Pythium insidiosum
aka “florida horse leech/Kunkers”
Pythiosis in horses causes what?
Large neoplasms and lesions on the body - sometimes looks similar to proud flesh
What is the prognosis for a dog with GI pythiosis?
POOR
How do you dx pythiosis?
Need to do a culture
Can do a pythium PCR
Who is affected by white nose syndrome and what is the etiology?
Hibernating bats
Pseudogymnoascus destructants
Chytridiomycosis is a disease of _______, caused by __________
Dz of amphibians
Caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
What does rhinosporidium cause?
Nasal polyps in dogs, other mammals, and birds
Pneumocystis infects what animals?
Animals with immunodeficiency
What is the microsporidian parasite that affects the brain and kidney of rabbits?
Encephalitozoon cuniculi
T/F: Mycotoxins are primary metabolites produced by fungi that are capable of causing disease and death in humans and other animals
FALSE
Mycotoxins are SECONDARY metabolites (the rest is correct)
