Unit 5 Disease Producing Fungi
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UNIT 5 DISEASE PRODUCING FUNGI Structure 5.0 Objectives 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Mycosis 5.2.1 Sources of Mycoses 5.2.2 Classification of Mycoses 5.3 Superficial Mycoses 5.3.1 Surface Mycoses 5.3.2 Cutaneous Mycoses 5.3.3 The Three Genera 5.3.4 Ring Worm Diseases 5.3.5 Candidiasis 5.4 Subcutaneous Mycoses 5.4.1 Mycetoma 5.4.2 Phycomycosis 5.4.3 Chromomycosis 5.4.4 Rhinosporidiosis 5.4.5 Sporotrichosis 5.5 Systemic Mycoses 5.5.1 Cryptococcosis (Torulosis) 5.5.2 Histoplasmosis 5.6 Opportunistic Mycoses 5.6.1 Aspergillosis 5.6.2 Zygomycosis 5.7 Myxotoxicosis 5.8 Let Us Sum Up 5.9 Key Words 5.10 Answers to Check Your Progress 5.0 OBJECTIVES After studying this unit, you should be able to: l define mycosis; l list various sources of mycoses; l classify mycoses; l differentiate among superficial, subcutaneous, systemic and opportunistic mycoses; l describe ring worm diseases; and l state myxotoxicosis. 5.1 INTRODUCTION In Unit 3, you have learnt about disease producing Gram Positive, Gram Negative bacteria and Mycobacteria. In Unit 4, we discussed some other pathogens, viz. spirochaetes, rickettsiae, chlamydias, mycoplasma, bacteroides and fusobacteria. We hope you must have benefitted with our discussions in these units. Now in this unit, we shall focus our attention on Disease Producing Fungi, which are very common in human beings. Most of these fungi are saprophytes in the soil and are called moulds, yeasts and filamentous fungi. They are mostly air borne and enter the body through respiratory tract but sometimes they also enter 69 Microbiology-I through other portals. A fungus infection may be superficial, subcutaneous or systemic. Apart from these three categories, there are also other saprophytic fungi present in the atmosphere, which usually do not produce disease but under special conditions may cause infection. 5.2 MYCOSIS A fungus infection is called mycosis. Human diseases caused by fungi are collectively called as mycotic diseases or mycoses. They are very common in human beings and some of them are even fatal. 5.2.1 Sources of Mycoses The sources of mycoses are varied. Some of the cutaneous infections are spread from person to person by towels, beddings, clothings, etc. and sometimes even become epidemic. Many fungi are normal inhabitants of the human skin but under some unusual circumstances become pathogenic. The sources of systemic mycoses are fungi of soil. These are present in the environment and are acquired by inhalation. Systemic infections never spread from person to person. Check Your Progress 1 Define mycosis. ................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................................... 5.2.2 Classification of Mycoses Mycoses are classified into four groups, viz. Superficial, Subcutaneous, Systemic and Opportunistic, which are further divided into subgroups as shown in Table 5.1. Table 5.1: Classification of Mycoses Mycoses Superficial Subcutaneous Systemic Opportunistic Mycoses Mycoses Mycoses Mycoses Surface Mycoses i) Mycetoma i) Cryptococcosis i) Aspergillosis i) Tinea versicolor ii) Chromomycosis ii) Histoplasmosis ii) Zygomycosis ii) Tinea nigra iii) Phycomycosis iii) Piedra iv) Rhinosporidiosis v) Sporotrichosis Cutaneous Mycoses i) Tinea pedis ii) Tinea corporis iii) Tinea favosa iv) Tinea capitis v) Tinea barbe vi) Tinea unguium vii) Tinea cruris viii) Candidiasis 5.3 SUPERFICIAL MYCOSES Superficial Mycoses are strictly surface infections. These are of two types: Surface Mycoses and Cutaneous Mycoses. 5.3.1 Surface Mycoses The fungi which live exclusively on the dead layers of the skin and its appendages (hair 70 and nails) cause surface mycoses. Examples are Tinea versicolor, Tinea nigra and Piedra. Tinea versicolor: It is a chronic infection of the horny layer of the epidermis caused by a Disease Producing yeast like fungus. The cells are oval and divide by budding. It produces cosmetic effects Fungi such as brownish discolouration of the skin. The commonest sites involved include chest, back, abdomen, neck and upper arm. Tinea nigra: It is an infection of the palms producing black or brown lesions. These lesions appear as irregular flat dark brown or black discoloured areas. Skin scrapings show brownish branched septate hyphae and budding cells. Piedra (White or Black Piedra): It is an infection of the hair and produces irregular white or black hard nodules on the hair shaft. Check Your Progress 2 Differentiate between Tinea nigra and Piedra. ................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................................... 5.3.2 Cutaneous Mycoses These infections attack all parts of the outside of the body. They are generally confined to the superficial cornified layer (keratin) of the skin and its appendages, and are called dermatomycoses or dermatophytoses or Tinea ringworms. These are caused by dermatophytes (dermatophyte fungi) and are classified into three genera, viz. Trichophyton, Epidermophyton and Microsporum. Cutaneous infection is also caused by a type of yeast Candida albicans. 5.3.3 The Three Genera i) Trichophyton [Fig. 5.1(a)]: It infects skin, hair and nails and produces a characteristic honey comb appearance on scalp. The spores are arranged along the hyphae or sometimes in clusters. These destroy keratin of hair giving rise to broken hair and may cause ringworm of the scalp (Tinea capitis), foot (Tinea pedis), skin (Tinea cruris), beard (Tinea barbe) and nails (Tinea unguium). Hypha Spores Fig. 5.1(a): Trichophyton colony ii) Epidermophyton [Fig. 5.1(b)]: It invades skin and nails but not hair. This fungus contains only one species E. floccosum and infects only man. It is one of the commonest of all the dermatophytes in cutaneous infections. A typical colony consists of a mycelium with large club shaped spores. It is largely responsible for Tinea barbe, Tinea capitis, Tinea pedis, Tinea unguium. iii) Microsporum [Fig. 5.1(c)]: It invades hair and skin but not nails. It is the most common cause of ringworm of the scalp but it may also give rise to ringworms in other parts of 71 Microbiology-I Clubshaped spores Hypha Fig. 5.1(b): Epidermophyton colony Spindlshaped spores Hypha Fig. 5.1(c): Microsporum colony the body. A typical colony consists of mycelium with large thick walled spindle shaped spores. It penetrates the hair and extends down the shaft as fine filaments. Microsporum causes hair and skin infections. Check Your Progress 3 Differentiate between Epidermophyton and Microsporum spore. .................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................... 5.3.4 Ringworm Diseases These are the diseases caused by any one of the following three dermatophytes, viz. Trichophyton, Epidermophyton and Microsporum and are classified clinically on the basis of the site involved. These are of several types, some of which are as follows: i) Tinea pedis (Ringworm of the feet, athlete’s foot): It is the infection of the skin between the toes and sole of the foot and sometimes similar areas on the hand. ‘Soft corn’ between fourth and fifth toes is a very common chronic infection. It is common in people who wear socks and closed shoes. ii) Tinea corporis (Ringworm of the smooth skin): It appears on the smooth skin and is more common in children than adults. It is often acquired from pet dogs or from 72 farm animals. iii) Tinea favosa (Honey Comb Ringworm): It is also called favus and often injures Disease Producing the hair follicle causing permanent areas of baldness. It may also give rise to cup- Fungi shaped crusts on the smooth skin. It often occurs as epidemic in children in camps. iv) Tinea capitis (Ringworm of the scalp): It is common in boys of school age. The infected hair will have a coloured glow under the lamp. v) Tinea barbae (Ringworm of the beard): It is also known as barber’s itch. It is a chronic infection of the beard and spreads by the use of improperly disinfected shaving equipment. vi) Tinea unguium (Ringworm of the nails): It is an infection of the finger nails or toe nails. vii) Tinea cruris (Ringworm of the groin): It involves the skin and spreads by using used towels and borrowing clothes. Check Your Progress 4 How is ringworm infection caused? Name some ringworm diseases in man. ................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................