Mycology Flashcards
Introduction – The Fungi
Among the most abundant and widely
distributed of all organisms.
~ 1.5 million named and unnamed species,
2nd only to insects.
All people continuously exposed to large
numbers of fungi.
Only 12-15 fungi commonly cause serious
human diseases
– illustrates the effectiveness of our host
defenses.
Serious fungal infections have increased
markedly in frequency in recent decades
The Rise of the Fungi
7th cause of deaths - rising
Basic characteristics
Eukaryotic (membrane-bound nucleus, complex organelles) Energy and nutrition - parasitic or saprophytic. Reproduce by budding, fission or spore formation Cell walls (polysaccharide and glycoproteins). Principal cell wall sterol is ergosterol Can grow as yeast-like cells or as molds.
Traditional Classification
Zygomycetes (Rhizopus, Mucor, Absidia, Basidiobolus)
Ascomycetes (Histoplasma, Blastomyces, some Candida)
Basidiomycetes (Cryptococcus)
Deuteromycetes (most pathogenic Candida species, pathogenic
Aspergillus species, Coccidioides)
Morphologic Classification
yeast (Candida, Cryptococcus)
molds (Aspergillus, Zygomycetes, many others).
dimorphic fungi (Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Paracoccidioides, Sporothrix)
Diagnosis of Fungal Diseases
Culture causative fungus.
Microscopic morphology
Demonstrate specific host immune response
Demonstrate fungal antigen(s)
Demonstrate fungal nucleic acid sequence(s)
Demonstrate distinctive fungal metabolite(s)
Culture
Culture – Yeast-like fungi (Candida spp. and related) grow on routine bacterial media – Filamentous fungi (molds) may grow on routine media should be cultured on mycologic media for optimum recovery special requirements (M. furfur)
Mycologic Media
Culture media for primary isolation): a
selective & non-selective agars, that can
include:
– Sabouraud’s glucose agar (SAB), non-selective
– Selective SAB, with chloramphenicol
– Selective SAB, with chloramphenicol plus
cycloheximide (Actidione)
– Blood Brain Heart Infusion (BBHI), non-selective
– BBHI with gentamicin (G) & chloramphenicol (C)
– Selective BBHI with G, C & Actidione
Usually incubated at 30oC
– For possible dimorphs sub at 37 to convert to yeast
CanWe Do Fungal Blood Cultures?
Yes!
90% of the time looking for yeast fungemia;
usually from a urinary source
– Conventional blood culture is perfectly adequate
– Some conventional systems are insensitive for Cryptococcus
Occasionally looking for fungemia with a mold or dimorph; Aspergillus, Fusarium,
Histoplasma.
– Special culture procedures
– Biphasic bottle
– Lysis-centrifugation (Isolator) system
Microscopy
Microscopy
– budding yeast or mycelia are often
evident on Gram stains
Histopatholological stains
GMS (Gomori/Grocott Methenamine Silver)
– Cell walls stain black, but so can collagen fibers, RBCs, etc.
Staining pattern plus morphology are indispensable.
PAS (Periodic Acid Schiff)
– Cell walls stain pink/red. Other carbohydrate material & small lipid droplets may also take up the stain.
Mucicarmine (Mayer’s or Southgate’s)
– Used to demonstrate the capsular material of C. neoformans, which stains pink/red. There are hypocapsular, or (rarely) acapsular isolates of C. neoformans
H&E or tissue Gram stains most fungi, although some stain faintly. Not always dependable!
Host antibody responses
More useful in endemic than opportunistic mycoses Cross-reactions between fungi very common Recombinant fungal protein antigens may be useful
Diagnostically-useful fungal antigens
Commonly Used – Cryptococcus neoformans galactoxylomannan –Histoplasma capsulatum surface antigens Used in specific/complex situations – Candida albicans enolase – Aspergillus fumigatus galactomannan.
Outline
Molds; Aspergillus, the zygomycetes,
and others
Yeasts; Candida and Cryptococcus
Dimorphic and endemic fungal infections
Aspergillosis: Microbiology
Pathogenic species
– A. fumigatus
– A. flavus
– A. niger
Common features
– narrow septate hyphae that branch at 30-
45 degrees in tissue (acute-angle branching)
– produce asexual spores in environment and in cultures, but not in mammalian tissues
Aspergillosis: Epidemiology/ecology
Ubiquitous environmental saprophytes (dust, soil, on plants, etc).
– Everyone is exposed to spores every day.
Disease when natural defenses break down.
– Neutropenia or phagocyte dysfunction (eg, CGD) is the key risk factor for invasive aspergillosis.
– T-cell immunity is less important.
– Environment influences incidence - with filtered air, increase with construction and demolition.
Aspergillosis Allergic Bronchopulmonary
Disease
hypersensitivity leads to allergic pneumonitis or allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). allergic aspergillosis – bronchospasm – fleeting pulmonary infiltrates – tends to be chronic or recurrent refractory asthma
Aspergillosis Pulmonary colonization
saprophytic colonization - usually no symptoms, but hemoptysis can result from local invasion saprophytic colonization of preexisting lung lesions > superficial invasion > hemoptysis
Invasive Aspergillosis
Invasive aspergillosis:
– infection via inhalation of airborne spores.
– spores survive and germinate (produce hyphae) if local phagocytes are absent or dysfunctional.
– hyphae invade locally and spread via blood vessels.
– dissemination to distant organs via bloodstream.
– vascular invasion and occlusion produces extensive tissue necrosis and infarction.
Pulmonary
Sinusitis
Other and disseminated disease
Aspergillosis Diagnosis
Diagnosis is difficult
Cultures
– blood negative, even with disseminated
disease
– sputum/respiratory - colonization vs invasion
Biopsy & microscopy - KOH of fresh tissue or histopathology
Antibody testing seldom useful
Immunologic detection of cell surface antigens
– Galactomannan test becoming more
available, often used for screening at-risk
patients
PCR of rDNA
sequences in blood and/or bronchial fluids
All limited in availability and data to support use
MORPHOLOGY
Aspergillus fumigatus
The most common pathogen A. fumigatus has a dark-green colony Flask-shaped vesicle with conidia swept away from stalk Single row of phialides (uniseriate)
Aspergillus flavus & niger
A. flavus – Biseriate – Yellow colony – Phialides surround vesicle A. niger – White base with densely black conidia – Dark, rough conidia Also potential pathogens
Mucormycosis (Zygomycosis) Microbiology
Pathogenic species -- Zygomycetes – Rhizopus sp. –Mucor sp. – Absidia sp. Common properties – broad, aseptate hyphae, branching at 90 degrees in tissue – produce sexual and asexual spores in the environment and in cultures, but not in mammalian tissues.
Mucormycosis Epidemiology/ecology
Ubiquitous environmental molds (decaying
organic matter, fruits, etc).
People are regularly exposed to spores of
these fungi.
Disease develops when natural defenses are deficient. Major risk factors include:
– diabetic ketoacidosis, other metabolic acidoses (eg, uremia)
– organ transplantation and abnormal CMI
– neutropenia
– burns
– iron chelation therapy
Mucormycosis Rhinocerebral
Rhinocerebral
– rapidly progressive necrotizing pansinusitis
– spreads into cranium via blood vessels if
untreated.
– can disseminate to distant sites via bloodstream
Mucormycosis Pulmonary and other
Pulmonary
– necrotizing pneumonitis with secondary blood vessel invasion, thrombosis & infarction
– Dissemination to distant organs is common
Cutaneous
– complication of extensive burns or other wounds
Gastrointestinal (rare)
– invasion of gastrointestinal mucosa in malnourished children in developing countries.
Mucormycosis - Diagnosis
Cultures often negative, even in
specimens containing visible fungal forms
Direct microscopy
(KOH preps or histology) is most important diagnostic modality.
No reliable serologic tests for antibodies or
antigens, no DNA tests at this time.
Zygomycetes in Culture
Wooly, rapidlygrowing mold
Large, distinctive sporangium
Mucormycosis - Treatment
Multiple treatment modalities are essential – correct underlying host defense abnormality – surgical debridement/removal of necrotic tissues is essential – amphotericin B, ? Newer azoles
Other Important Molds
Pseudallescheria boydii, Penicillium marneffei, Fusarium spp. can all
cause invasive disease in compromised hosts
A variety of fungi (the dermatophytes)
cause skin infections
Many rare/unusual syndromes caused by a
variety of organisms
Fusarium
Opportunistic pathogen, esp in
neutropenic patients
Common in fungal keratitis
Most commonly F. solani complex
Fusiform macroconidia; microconidia produced as well
Fluffy, white or colored colonies in culture
Dermatophyte infections
Taenia whatever… – Capitis; head and hair – Corporis, cruris, pedis; skin of body, groin, or feet Onychomycosis – nail infections Three major genera – Trichophyton – Epidermophyton – Microsporum