Mycology

 Eukaryotic organism
 Posses at least one nucleus nuclear
membrane, endoplasmic reticulum,
and mitochondria
 Lacks the property of photosynthesis
two basic morphological forms
 Yeasts
 are unicellular fungi which reproduce asexually
by blastoconidia formation (budding) or fission
 Hyphae
 multi-cellular fungi which reproduce asexually and/or
sexually
 **Dimorphism is the condition where by a
fungus can exhibit either the yeast form or the
hyphal form, depending on growth conditions
Morphology
 Thallus- vegetative portion of a fungus
 Hypha- filamentous or thread like of a
thallus
 Non septate- without partition
 Septate- with partition
 Pectinate- with comblike lateral projection
 Spiral- with terminal cells
 Mycelium- mass of countless hyphae
synonymous to mold
 Spores ( conidia )- reproduction
 Asexual spore- resistant to adverse
growth condition
 Thallospores- derived from the cells of the
thallus or body of the fungus
 Blastophores- buds from yeast
 Chlamydospores
 arthrospores
 Conidia- macroconidia, microconidia
 Asexual spore
 Ascospores- results from asexual
production involving saclike structure
called ascus
 Basidiospores- spores produces from the
surface of a special structure called
basidium
 Oospores- formed when two asexually
formed spores unite
Fungal metabolism
 All fungi are free living
 they are not obligate intracellular
parasites
 do not contain chlorophyll and cannot
synthesize macromolecules from
carbon dioxide and energy derived
from light rays.
 Therefore all fungi are heterotrophs,
living on preformed organic matter
important aspects of fungal
metabolism are:
 The synthesis of chitin, a polymer of
N-acetyl glucosamine, and other
compounds, for use in forming the
cell wall. These induce immune
hypersensitivity .
 The synthesis of ergosterol for
incorporation into the plasma
membrane. This makes the plasma
membrane sensitive to those
antimicrobial agents which either
block the synthesis of ergosterol or
prevent its incorporation into the
membrane or bind to it,
e.g. amphotericin B.
 The synthesis of proteins on
ribosomes that are different from
those found in bacteria. This makes
the fungi immune to those
antimicrobial agents that are directed
against the bacterial ribosome, e.g.,
chloramphenicol.
 The ability of certain metabolites to
alter morphology of yeast and/or be
assimilated by yeast with concomitant
clinical identification affects.
Synthesis of toxin
 Ergot alkaloids- these are produced
by Claviceps purpurea and cause an
alpha adrenergic blockade
 Psychotropic agents - these include
psilocybin, psilocin and lysergic acid
diethylamide (LSD)
 Aflatoxins - these are carcinogens
produced by Aspergillus flavus when
growing on grain. When these grains
are eaten by humans or when they
are fed to dairy cattle and they get
into the milk supply, they affect
humans.
Clinical Techniques in
Mycology
A. Visualization of fungi in tissue
preparations
 Treatment with 10% potassium
hydroxide
 Positive stain with
 a. Lactophenol cotton blue
 b. Grocott silver stain
 c. Hematoxylin
 d. Eosin
 3. Negative stain with India ink
 Fluorescence of fungi under
ultraviolet light
 Culture of fungi on
 1. Sabouraud's agar (favors fungal
growth because of low pH)
 2. Mycosel agar (selective for pathogenic
fungi because of chloramphenicol and
cycloheximide in medium)
 Visualization of cultured fungi (25oC and
37oC)
 Colonial morphology
 Cellular morphology
 Identification of yeast by
 Biochemical tests
 Behavior in broth and serum (germ tube
formation)
 Behavior on cornmeal agar (pseudohyphae
formation)
Classification of fungi
 Class myxomycetes- no known
pathogen
 Class zygomycetes
 Ascomycotina –sexually reproduce
involving the ascus
 Basidiomycotina- sexually reproduce
involving the basidium
 Deuteromycotina- only asexual spore
Mycoses
 Superficial
 Cutaneous
 Subcutaneous
 Systemic or deep mycoses
 Mycoses due to opportunistic fungi
Superficial Mycoses
 Tinea versicolor- caused by Malassezia
furfur AKA pitysporum orbiculare
 Tinea nigra- caused by exophiala werneckii,
cause dark pigmented patches on the skin
 Tinea nodosa (black piedra)- caused by
piedraia hortae which characteristically form
hard nodules along parasitized hair
 White piedra- caused by trichosporon
beiglelii, development of soft oval
nodules adhering to the hair
 Disease Etiological Agent Symptoms Identification of organism

Pityriasis versicolor Malassezia furfur hypopigmented macules "spaghetti and meatballs" appearance
of organism in skin scrapings

Tinea nigra Exophiala werneckii black macules black, 2-celled oval yeast in skin
scrapings

Black piedra Piedraia hortai black nodule on hair shaft black nodule on hair shaft composed of
spore sacs and spores

White piedra Trichosporum beigelii creme-colored nodules on hair shaft white nodule on hair shaft composed of
mycelia that fragment into arthrospores
Tinea versicolor
Tinea nigra
Black piedra
Cutaneous mycosis
 infections that extend deeper into the
epidermis, as well as invasive hair and
nail diseases.
 These diseases are restricted to the
keratinized layers of the skin, hair and
nails
 The agents causing these diseases are
termed dermatophytes. The diseases
are referred to as ringworm or tinea.
 Tinea capitis, tinea favosa- microsporum and
tricophyton.
 Tinea barbae
 Tinea corporis- face and trunk
 Tinea cruris- affecting groin
 Tinea axilliaris
 Tinea pedis
 Tinea manuum
 Tinea unguim
 Disease Etiological Agent Symptoms Indentification of organism

Tinea capitis Microsporum sp. Trichophyton sp. ringworm lesion of scalp Presence/absence and shape of micro-
Epidermophyton sp. and macroconidia in scrapings from
lesion

Tinea corporis Microsporum sp. Trichophyton sp. ringworm lesion of trunk, arms, legs Presence/absence and shape of micro-
Epidermophyton sp and macroconidia in scrapings from
lesion

Tinea manus Microsporum sp. Trichophyton sp. ringworm lesion of hand Presence/absence and shape of micro-
Epidermophyton sp and macroconidia in scrapings from
lesion

Tinea cruris "jock itch" Microsporum sp. Trichophyton sp. ringworm lesion of groin Presence/absence and shape of micro-
Epidermophyton sp and macroconidia in scrapings from
lesion

Tinea pedis"athlete's foot" Microsporum sp. Trichophyton sp. ringworm lesion of foot Presence/absence and shape of micro-
Epidermophyton sp and macroconidia in scrapings from
lesion

Tinea unguium Microsporum sp. Trichophyton sp. infection of nails Presence/absence and shape of micro-
Epidermophyton sp and macroconidia in scrapings from
lesion

Ectothrix Microsporum sp. Trichophyton sp. infection of hair shaft surface Mycelium and spores on hair shaft
Epidermophyton sp

Endothrix Microsporum sp. Trichophyton sp. infection of hair shaft interior Mycelium and spores in hair shaft
Epidermophyton sp
Tinea capitis
Tinea fovosa
Tinea barbae
Tinea corporis
Tinea cruris
Tinea cruris 2
Tinea pedis
Tinea manuum
Tinea unguim
Subcutanoues mycoses
 infections involving the dermis,
subcutaneous tissues, muscle and
fascia
 These infections initially involve the
deeper layers of the dermis,
subcutaneous tissue or bone
 Sporotrichosis- sphorothrix schenkii, starts with
the subcutaneous nodule followed by the chain
of draining ulcers
 Chromoblastomycosis- granulomatous
verrucose ulcerative infection, painless unless
complicated by bacteria
 Phialophora verrucosa
 Cladosporium carrionii
 Fonsecaea pedrosi
 Fonsecaea compactum
 Mycetoma
 Pseudallescheria boydii
 Madurella grisea
 Madurella mycetomatis
 Draining sinus tracts at site of inoculation
 White, brown, yellow or black granules in
exudate that are fungal colonies
 Disease Etiological Agent Symptoms Identification of Organism

Sporotrichosis Sporothrix schenckii Nodules and ulcers along lymphatics at Budding yeast in tissue exudate that
site of inoculation converts to mold with "rosette pattern" of
conidiation on culture at 25oC.

Chromoblastomycosis Fonsecaea pedrosoi Warty nodules that progress to Copper-colored spherical yeast called
Fonsecaea compacta "cauliflower-like" appearance at site of "Medlar bodies" in tissue
Wangiella dermatitidis inoculation

Mycetoma Pseudallescheria boydii Draining sinus tracts at site of White, brown, yellow or black granules
Madurella grisea inoculation in exudate that are fungal colonies
Madurella mycetomatis
keratomycosis
sporotrichosis
Systemic mycoses
 infections that originate primarily in
the lung and may spread to many
organ systems.
 Unlike most other fungi, the five
systemic mycotic agents are
inherently virulent. Each species has
biochemical and structural
Systemic mycosis
 Coccidiodes immitis- coccidiomycosis
 Histoplasma capsulatum- agent of
histoplasmosis which involves the lungs,
spleen, lymph glands, kidneys and brain
- KOH is not useful in the diagnosis but
buffy coat, bone marrow and lymph
nodes biopsy or mucosal scrappings
 Cryptococcus neoformans- subacute or
chronic infection that involves the CNS
 Blastomyces dermatidis- chronic
granulomatous and suppurative condition
that involves the lungs and the pleurae
that simulates tuberculosis
 Candida albicans- infection that involves
nails, vulvo-vagina, CNS, pericardium,
lungs
 Nocardia asteroides- chronic
granulomatous condition of the lungs
and the CNS
 Aspergillus- associated with prolongs
antibiotic therapy
histoplasmosis
cryptococcosis
cryptococcosis
candidiasis
candidiasis
nocardia
aspegillus
Opportunistic mycosis
 infections in patients with immune deficiencies who
would otherwise not be infected
 Opportunistic mycoses are seen in those people with
impaired host defenses such as occurs in

 AIDS
 Alteration of normal flora
 Diabetes mellitus
 Immunosuppressive therapy
 Malignancy
 Disease Etiological Agent Symptoms Identification of organism

Candidiases Candida albicans Creamy growth on various areas of Budding yeast, septate hyphae,
body pseudohyphae in tissue. Germ
tubeformation in serum

Aspergillosis Aspergillus fumigatus "Fungus ball" in tissue Morphology of asexual fruiting structure

Zygomycosis Rhizopus sp. Absidia sp. Mucor sp. Various Morphology of asexual fruiting structure
and mycelium