Dimorphic Fungi

Question 1

What is the etiological agent(s) of Blastomycosis?

Answer 1

Blastomyces dermatitidis

Question 2

What is the etiological agent(s) of Histoplasmosis?

Answer 2

Histoplasma capsulatum

Question 3

What is the etiological agent(s) of coccidioidomycosis?

Answer 3

Coccidioides immitis

Coccidioides posadasii

Question 4

What is the etiological agent(s) of Paracoccidioidomycosis?

Answer 4

Paracoccidioides brasilienis

Paracoccidioides lutzi

Question 5

What are the endemic regions of Blastomycosis?

Answer 5

Ohio, Mississippi & St. Lawrence river valleys
Great Lakes
Appalachians

Question 6

What are the endemic regions of Histoplasmosis?

Answer 6

Ohio, & Mississippi river valleys

Latin America

Question 7

What are the endemic regions of coccidioidomycosis?

Answer 7

West Texas, Southwest U.S., Northern Mexico, Desert New Mexico, Arizona, California

Question 8

What are the endemic regions of Paracoccidioidomycosis?

Answer 8

Mexico, Central & South America

Greatest in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela

Question 9

Of the South American countries, where is Paracoccidioidomycosis not found?

Answer 9

Chile & Nicaragua

Question 10

Describe the Saprobic cells of Blastomycosis

Answer 10

Conidia hyphae

• one-celled
• smooth-walled

Question 11

Describe the Saprobic cells of Histoplasmosis

Answer 11

Ramified hyphae with Micro- and Macroconidia

- Single, round & has short nodules

Question 12

Describe the Saprobic cells of coccidioidomycosis

Answer 12

Arthoconidia hyphae

Question 13

Describe the Saprobic cells of Paracoccidioidomycosis

Answer 13

Hyphae with a cork-like spore

Question 14

Describe the parasitic cells of Blastomycosis

Answer 14

Yeast

• Large cells
• Thick walls
• Wide bud base

Question 15

Describe the parasitic cells of Histoplasmosis

Answer 15

Yeast

- small intracellular (typically in macrophages)

Question 16

Describe the parasitic cells of coccidioidomycosis

Answer 16

Spherule

Question 17

Describe the parasitic cells of Paracoccidioidomycosis

Answer 17

Yeast with multiple budding sites (steering wheel)

Question 18

What are the transition requirements for Histoplasma capsulatum?

Answer 18

Temperature
Sulfur
low redox potential

Question 19

How does Blastomycosis reproduce inside the host?

Answer 19

Asexual budding

Question 20

How does Histoplasmosis reproduce inside the host?

Answer 20

Asexual budding

Question 21

How does coccidioidomycosis reproduce inside the host?

Answer 21

Asexual endosporulation

Question 22

How does Paracoccidioidomycosis reproduce inside the host?

Answer 22

Asexual budding multipolar

Question 23

What is the route of infection for Blastomycosis?

Answer 23

Inhalation of infectious particles

Question 24

What is the route of infection for Histoplasmosis?

Answer 24

Inhalation of infectious particles

Question 25

What is the route of infection for coccidioidomycosis?

Answer 25

Inhalation of infectious particles

Question 26

What is the route of infection for Paracoccidioidomycosis?

Answer 26

Maybe contact with the oropharyngeal mucosal or inhalation of infectious particles

Question 27

What are the clinical manifestations of Blastomycosis?

Answer 27

- Pulmonary infection - Dissemination - Subcutaneous Nodules - Ulcerations of the Skin

Question 28

What are the clinical manifestations of Histoplasmosis?

Answer 28

- Pulmonary infection - Dissemination - TB-like Mucosal & Nodule lesions - Lung Calcifications

Question 29

What are the clinical manifestations of coccidioidomycosis?

Answer 29

- Pulmonary infection - Dissemination - Desert Arthritis

Question 30

What are the clinical manifestations of Paracoccidioidomycosis?

Answer 30

- Pulmonary infection - Dissemination - Mucosal Lesions - Ulcers & Crusting of the Skin

Question 31

What is the ratio of Males to Females infected with Blastomycosis?

Answer 31

10:1 favoring men

Question 32

What is the ratio of Males to Females infected with Histoplasmosis?

Answer 32

10:1 favoring middle-aged white men

Question 33

What is the ratio of Males to Females infected with coccidioidomycosis?

Answer 33

comparable rates in both sexes | - favor pregnant women in their 3rd trimester

Question 34

What is the ratio of Males to Females infected with Paracoccidioidomycosis?

Answer 34

95% Men, 5% of women

Question 35

What are the things that would increase the risk of contracting Blastomycosis?

Answer 35

- Forest Cutters | - Outdoor Sports

Question 36

What are the things that would increase the risk of contracting Histoplasmosis?

Answer 36

- working in contaminated soil with bird or bat droppings | - Immuno suppressed

Question 37

What are the things that would increase the risk of contracting coccidioidomycosis?

Answer 37

- working/living in dry, arid regions of endemic areas - women in their 3rd trimester - Immuno suppressed

Question 38

What are the things that would increase the risk of contracting Paracoccidioidomycosis?

Answer 38

- Agricultural related occupation - rural residency - smoking & drinking - IL-12 gene mutation

Question 39

Diagnosis for Blastomycosis

Answer 39

- Microscopy exam - Culture - serology - PCR

Question 40

Diagnosis for Histoplasmosis

Answer 40

- Direct Examination of a tissue sample - Culture - Serology - Skin test

Question 41

Diagnosis for coccidioidomycosis

Answer 41

- Skin test - Serology - Microscopic detection of cells in body fluids, exudates, sputum or biopsy-tissue - Radiographs of the lungs

Question 42

Diagnosis for Paracoccidioidomycosis

Answer 42

- Histopathology of granulomas - radiographs of the lungs - Serology

Question 43

how to treat Blastomycosis

Answer 43

- Amphotericin B | - Itraconazole

Question 44

how to treat Histoplasmosis

Answer 44

- Amphotericin B | - Itraconazole

Question 45

how to treat coccidioidomycosis

Answer 45

- Amphotericin B with Triazole | - Azoles like fluconazle

Question 46

how to treat Paracoccidioidomycosis

Answer 46

- Amphotericin B with sulfa- or azoles - Itraconazole - Fluconazole - Ketoconazole

Question 47

Why would you not want to use Itraconazole during a fungal infection that is causing meningitis?

Answer 47

it does not cross the blood-brain barrier