MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY

LABORATORY NOTES/ ACTIVITIES

FINALS PART 1:
GENERAL STRATEGIES FOR SPECIMEN COLLECTION
OF FUNGAL SAMPLES
BODY SITES AND THEIR CORRESPONDING FUNGAL PATHOGENS
SUPERFICIAL FUNGAL INFECTIONS
- Affects top area of skin
FUNGAL INFECTION CAUSATIVE AGENT LOCATION
Pityriasis versicolor/ Tinea Malassezia furfur Patches of skin discoloration, usually on the
versicolor back, chest, neck and upper arms, which may
appear lighter or darker than usual
Black Piedra/ Tinea nodosa Piedraia hortae hair shafts
White Piedra Trichosporon asahii Axilla, pubic, beard, scalp (hairy area)
Superficial phaeohypomycosis/ Hortaea werneckii Darkbrown to black painless patches on palms &
Tinea nigra soles
CUTANEOUS FUNGAL INFECTIONS
- Affects nails, hair, skin and mucous membranes (like mouth, throat or vagina)
FUNGAL INFECTION CAUSATIVE AGENT LOCATION
Dermatophytosis

 Tinea barbae Trichophyton, Epidermophyton, Skin, hair and hair follicles in the beard and
Microsporon spp. mustache area
 Tinea corporis Trunk, arm, legs
 Tinea cruris/ Jock itch Groin and inner thighs
 Tinea pedis/ Athlete’s foot Feet
 Tinea manuum Hands
 Tinea unguinum/ Fingernails or toenails
Onychomycosis This can cause discolored and cracked nails
 Tinea capitis Scalp
 Tinea faciei Face
 Tinea axillaries Underarm
Candidiasis Candida albicans
 Diaper rash Skin (buttocks, lower abdomen, genitals, and
upper thighs)
 Vaginal yeast infection Causes irritation, discharge and intense itchiness
(Vulvovaginitis) of the vagina and the vulva
 Esophageal candidiasis/ Esophagus
Candida esophagitis
 Candidal intertrigo Intertrigo can appear in between any skin areas
that are in close contact with each other, such as
skin folds, and that are often moist. Example: In
the crease(s) of neck, armpits
 Oral thrush/ Oropharyngeal Tongue, inner cheeks, roof of mouth, gums or
candidiasis tonsils
SUBCUTANEOUS FUNGAL INFECTIONS
- Fungal infection under the surface of skin (subcutaneous) if fungus gets into a cut or wound, usually through
injury while working with plants (like a scratch from a thorn). They cause rashes, ulcers and other symptoms
on skin.
FUNGAL INFECTION CAUSATIVE AGENT LOCATION
Sporotrichosis/ Rose gardener’s Sporothrix schenckii Anywhere in the body
disease - Infection commonly occurs when the skin
is broken while handling plant material
such as rosebushes, briars, or dirt
Chromoblastomycosis/ Fonsecaea species and Usually begins on the foot or leg, but other
Chromomycosis Cladophialophora carrioni exposed body parts may be infected, especially
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LABORATORY NOTES/ ACTIVITIES

where the skin is broken

Eumycetoma/ Madura foot Pseudallescheria boydii/ Feet
Eumycotic mycetoma
DEEP FUNGAL INFECTIONS
- Deep fungal infections are found in the lungs, blood, urinary tract or brain. Some are opportunistic infections,
they usually only cause disease in people with weakened immune systems.
FUNGAL INFECTION CAUSATIVE AGENT LOCATION
Histoplasmosis Histoplasma capsulatum Lungs, Brain
Coccidioidomycosis/ Valley fever Coccidioides immitis Lungs but can move to other parts of the body
Blastomycosis Blastomyces Commonly infects bones, skin and lungs
Rarely, infects brain and spinal cord
Aspergillosis Aspergillus flavus/ Aspergillus Lungs (Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
fumigatus (ABPA) and Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis)
Candidal urinary tract infection Candida spp Bladder and Kidneys
Candidemia Candida spp Blood
Endophthalmitis Candida spp Eyes
Mucormycosis Mucormycetes sinuses and brain (rhinocerebral mucormycosis),
lungs (pulmonary mucormycosis), intestines
(gastrointestinal mucormycosis), skin (cutaneous
mucormycosis) or many parts of your body at the
same time (disseminated mucormycosis)
Cryptococcosis Cryptococcus neoformans and Lungs
Cryptococcus gattii
Cryptococcal meningitis Cryptococcus neoformans and Brain, Spinal cord
Cryptococcus gattii

CULTURE TECHNIQUES AND CONSIDERATIONS

Culture media: Balanced mixture of different nutrients necessary for the growth of microorganisms, it may be simple or complex
composition in each case serves to provide the energy and basic units for building cells.

The purpose of using Culture media:

 Growing and preserving fungi

 Study the effect of single nutrients found in media on the growth of fungus
 Inducing fungi to produce and forming some material
 Classification of fungi and study the cultural characteristics

DIVISION OF CULTURE MEDIA

According to the chemical composition
CLASSIFICATION/S NOTE/S EXAMPLE
Chemically defined Has known composition, consists Czapekʹs Agar (CZ)
media of metal salts, carbon or nitrogen
Chemically undefined Composition changed depending Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Corn Meal Agar (CMA), Malt
media on the nature of the material extract agar
prepared
According to the Textures
Solid media Composition maybe natural or
artificial, contains agar
Semi solid media Contains a half or a quarter of the
amount Agar added to solid
media
Liquid media Does not contains Agar
According to the purpose
General purpose media Media are used to growth 1. Water Agar (WA)
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LABORATORY NOTES/ ACTIVITIES
different types of fungi
Selective media Contains a substance that inhibits
the growth of some fungi while
helping growth another kind.
Modification on the composition
may include addition of
antibiotics, modify the value of
(pH) , adding of salt , or use Rose
Bengal
2. Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA)
3. Carrot Agar
4. Malt extract agar- Media for isolation and purification
5. Oatmeal agar - Media for isolation and purification
6. Czapekʹs Agar (CZ) - Media for identification of Aspergillus
and Penicillium
7. Corn Meal Agar (CMA) - Media for the characterization of
yeast isolates
8. Gorodkowa's medium - Media for the characterization of
yeast isolates
9. Mick’s Maintenance Medium - Media for short and medium
term storage of isolates
1. Selective Fusarium Agar
2. Phytophthora selective medium
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LABORATORY NOTES/ ACTIVITIES

ANTIFUNGAL DRUGS
POLYENES
DRUG/S USES/INDICATION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AMPHOTERICIN B first-line antifungal drug for systemic Source: S.nodosus
fungal infection.
Histoplasmosis
NYSTATIN Treatment of candidal infections of the Source: S.norsei
skin, mucous membranes and
gastrointestinal tract
NATAMYCIN Used to treat fungal eye infections Source: S. natalensis
AZOLES
Groups of azoles (based on structure):
• Triazole – Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, Fluconazole, Posaconazole, Voriconazole
• Imidazole – Clotrimazole, Miconazole, Econazole
DRUG/S USES/INDICATION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KETOCONAZOLE Used in systemic fungal infections • s/e, interactions: hepatoxicity,
(before), topical (now) antiandrogenic effects (Inhibits testosterone
causing gynecomastia, low sperm count, low
libido)

ITRACONAZOLE Used to treat onychomycosis (fungal • Alternative to Ketoconazole

infection in the fingernails or toenails) • Not hepatotoxic, no adrenal suppression
• Needs acidic pH to increase absorption
FLUCONAZOLE DOC and Prophylaxis for Cryptococcal
meningitis
Preferred for resistant candidiasis
POSACONAZOLE Used to treat invasive infections by • Structurally similar to Itraconazole
Candida species and Aspergillus • a/e: gastrointestinal disturbances (n/v,
species in severely immunocompromise diarrhea), headaches
patients
VORICONAZOLE DOC for invasive aspergillosis • a/e: virtual & auditory hallucinations,
hepatotoxicity
Structurally similar to Fluconazole
CLOTRIMAZOLE For superficial fungal infections
MICONAZOLE
ECONAZOLE
TIOCONAZOLE
ALLYLAMINES
DRUG/S USES/INDICATION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
NAFTIFINE
TERBINAFINE
TOLNAFTATE
ECHINOCANDINS
DRUG/S USES/INDICATION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ANIDULAFUNGIN Potent against Aspergillus & most • Novel antifungal agent
Candida species • s/e: flushing (rapid infusion)
CASPOFUNGIN • s/e: flushing (rapid infusion)
MICAFUNGIN • s/e: flushing (rapid infusion)
OTHER ANTIFUNGALS
DRUG/S USES/INDICATION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FLUCYTOSINE Used in combination with Amphotericin • Prodrug of 5-flurouracil
B in Cryptococcal meningitis
GRISEOFULVIN DOC for refractory ringworm infections • Source: P. griseofulvum
of the body nails, hair, feet • Long duration of treatment (3-6 mos)
• Poor bioavailability
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LABORATORY NOTES/ ACTIVITIES

NAME: DATE:

COURSE/YEAR/SECTION: SCORE:

FINALS PART 1:
GENERAL STRATEGIES FOR SPECIMEN COLLECTION
OF FUNGAL SAMPLES

1. What are fungus/fungi and its classifications?

2. Why can superficial mycoses in humans lead to bacterial infections?

3. People often associate fungi with disease and food spoilage; in what way can fungi be beneficial to humans?
 MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY
LABORATORY NOTES/ ACTIVITIES

4. Differentiate the classifications of antifungal drugs.

5. As an allied medical student, why is it important to study and understand fungus/fungi?