Sept2022_ KRCHN-Basic class

Introduction to mycology
Outline

Definition

Pathogenicity

General characteristics of fungi

Forms of fungi (fungal classification)

Fungal diseases

Transmission

Prevention & control

Mycology Definition

Defn; Mycology is the study of fungi . The diseases

that are caused by fungi are called mycoses
Pathogenicity of fungi
Fungi are both harmful and beneficial . Some produce
toxins. The beneficial effects of fungi are,
 Production of antibiotics

 Food processing where yeast is used

 Brewing industry where yeast is also used

 Source of organic acids

 Agriculture sector- saprophytic benefits of fungi i.e

decomposing of organic matter

 Fungi as Infectious Agents
Molds and yeasts are widely distributed in air,
dust, fomites and normal flora.
Humans are relatively resistant.
Fungi are relatively nonpathogenic.
Of the 100,000 fungal species, only 300 have been
linked to disease in animals.
Fungi are the most common plant pathogens.
Human mycoses are caused by true fungal
pathogens and opportunistic pathogens.

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Characteristics of fungi
Are eukaryotic organisms i.e they have no cell wall
Are saprophytes thus their main source of food is dead ,
decaying organic matter .
Some have a simple cell wall thus referred to as plants
They are non-photosynthetic unlike plants & algae.
They grow as filaments called hyphae (singular- hypha
They are unicellular
They reproduce both sexually & asexually. Asexual
reproduction entails budding, hyphal extension or asexual
spores formation. Sexual reproduction is through nuclear
fusion of 2 gametes.
Are strict aerobes which also need warm & humid environment
Budding as a mode of production
Hyphae structure
Forms of fungi (Fungal classification)
I. Yeast

II. Moulds/filamentious fungi

III. Mushrooms (Basidiomycetes)

IV. Dimorphic fungi- have features of both yeast &

moulds
Fungal Diseases
The class of fungi that causes most of the fungal
diseases is class Deuteromycetes . The three groups
of fungal diseases are,

a) Superficial mycosis infections

b) Deep seated mycosis infections

c) Systemic mycosis infections

a) Superficial mycosis

Fungal diseases confined to the skeletal muscle, mucous

membranes & skeletal appendages e.g hair & nails

Caused by dermatophytes (moulds)

Some caused by non-dermatophytes

Examples of dermatophytes are genus Trichophyton,

Microsporum, Tinea & epidermophyton.

Some of the superficial mycosis are also caused by yeasts

such as candida albicans & malussezia furfur

Examples of superficial mycosis
Taenea pedis (Athletes’foot)

Taenea Capitis (Head ring worm)

Taenea Corporis (Affects hairy parts)

Taenea Barbae ( affects beards region)

Taenea Cruris ( between the thighs)

Taenea Unguium ( Affects nails)

Candidiasis ( caused by candida albicans and it can be

oral or vaginal candidiasis )

 Superficial Mycoses
Tinea versicolor – caused by Malassezia furfur; elicits
mild, chronic scaling, mottling of skin; also implicated in
folliculitis, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis
White piedra – caused by Trichosporon beigelii; whitish or
colored masses develop scalp, pubic, or axillary hair
Black piedra – caused by Piedraia hortae; dark-brown to
black gritty nodules, mainly on scalp hairs

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Mycotic diseases
Transmission & Clinical presentation of of superficial
mycosis
 Direct contact
Immunosuppression
Sharing of comb and briefs
Contact with animals e.g cats & dogs
Clinical presentation includes
 Scaly/crusting lesions
 Hair loss
 Baldness
 Oral thrush
 White patches on the tongue & Buccal cavity
 Milky discharge especially in case of Valvovaginitis following
candidiasis infection
 Ulceration secondary to bacterial infection .
Treatment of superficial mycosis

Oral antifungals e.g griseofulvin

Crystal violet 1% for oral thrush

Nystatin drops ( antifungal )

Pessaries , lotions, creams etc e.g miconazole &

nystatin
Sulphur containing drugs , lotions and shampoos

Keratolytic agents e.g whitfield

Transmission
b) Subcutaneous fungal infections
These are those fungal infections that involve the facia,
muscles and bones. They are associated with free living
saprophytic fungi . Such fungi have no virulence factors
but the mycoses develop with repeated exposure.
Caused by genus Actinomycetes & Eumycetoma
Examples;
 Mycetoma (madura foot)
 Chromomycosis
 Phycomycosis
 Rhinosporadiasis characterised with polyps of the
nose, mouth, conjuctiva & skin
Madura foot
c) Systemic mycosis
Involves internal organs
Spores from fungi can be inhaled with dust from
contaminated soil
Inhaled spores can germinate and cause respiratory
infection similar to TB
Common causative fungal agents are Histoplasma,
Coccidioides & Blastomycetes , Aspergillus, candida
& cryptococcus
Aspergillus , candida & Cryptococcus do cause
opportunistic fungal infections among
immunosuppressed patients .
Common systemic fungal diseases
Histoplasmosis
Blastomycosis
Cryptoccosis e.g cryptococcal menengitis

The systemic fungal infections are comonly treated

using
 Amphotericin B
 Itraconazole and
 Fluconazole
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