Question

Each student is to do a thorough research on ten (10) different human mycoses. Give the following information for each mycosis: Name of the disease e.g. candidacies, blastomycosis etc (Common name of a disease, if available, should be used along with the scientific name) Type of mycosis - one of the following (e.g. superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous, systemic) Etiologic agent (Scientific name of the fungus responsible for the disease in (a) Mode of infection (how humans are infected with the fungus) Organ(s) affected by the disease Method of diagnosis {not symptoms); should be very specific e.g. specimen or tissue biopsy for culture of fungus; microscopic examination of.... for e.g. hyphac, spores etc g) Treatment (Be specific) Example of Format: You have to show the following for each mycosis: Disease: Type of mycosis: Etiologic agent: Mode of infection: Organs affected: Diagnosis: Treatment: Disease: Type of mycosis: Etiologic agent: Number the disease and Repeat (a through sigma) for each disease.

Answer 1

1). a). Disease: Candidiasis

b). Type of mycosis: Superficial or peripheral

c). Etiologic agent: Candida Albicans

d). Mode of infection: Candidiasis is the most common opportunistic fungal infection caused by Candida Albicans. The organism best grows in the basic pH. We can observe the prevalence of this infection during antibiotic usage because some of the microbes present in our genital tract and oral cavity, which keep the environment acidic are killed due to the antibiotic usage. As a result the local environmental become more alkaline, thus, favouring the growth of fungus.

e). Organs affected: Skin, esophagus, eyes, kidneys, liver, blood, heart and spleen

f). Diagnosis: Diagnosis is done by observation of the sample taken from the infected area under microscope to identify the fungus. Or the swabs may be cultured to specifically identify the bacteria. C. albicans grow rapidly on blood agar media, and the organism can be specifically identified by gram tube test. In gram tube test, the colony is incubated at 37 degrees for approximately four hrs, and observed for the elongation of hyphae. Or the organism can be grown on differential medias containing chromogenic substrates such as chromagar, it forms green colonies on chromagar.

g). Treatment: Generally, withdrawal of drug usage can restore the symptoms without drug treatment if it is drug induced. In severe cases, the anti-fungal drugs such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, nystastin, clotromazole, econazole, etc are prescribed based on the type of infection.