Introduction/Background
Cryptococcus neoformans is a basidiomycetous yeast fungus that is enclosed with a polysaccharide capsule. C. neoformans can undergo sexual reproduction that is due to crossing α- and a-mating types, resulting in the formation of sexual spores or basidiospores (Buchanan and Murphy, 1998). It is an intracellular pathogen that affects more than one million individuals, resulting in over 700,000 deaths per year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). Individuals become infected with this pathogen when they inhale fungal particles from the various sources that C. neoformans is found in: bird guano, decaying vegetables and soil (Upadhya et al. 2013). These particles then enter the alveoli within the lungs. In individuals with a healthy immune system, the infection is cleared or stays dormant until an imbalance of the immune system occurs. However, in individuals with compromised immune systems such as those with HIV, cancer or those taking corticosteroid medications; the fungus can disseminate and enter the central nervous system. Symptoms include coughing, chest pain, fever, weight loss, pneumonia and respiratory distress syndrome as well as meningoencephalitis that is fatal if left untreated (Bose et al. 2003; Upadhya et al. 2013).
Cell mediated immunity in the infected host is very important to respond to fungal invaders. Phagocytic cells like macrophages, and neutrophils produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) which kill
In January 1994, the 6.7 Northridge Earthquake in California disturbed the soil and as a result of the magnitude, aftershocks, and subsequent landslides, Coccidioidomycosis fungi became aerosolized and dispersed [5]. 203 cases were identified in Ventura County, but Coccidioidomycosis was not the original diagnosis [5]. Data on Coccidioidomycosis is limited due to varieties in state reporting, testing practices, and misunderstanding of the disease [1]. A general conclusion is that 10-50% of those living in endemic areas have been exposed to some form of the disease and each year, approximately 150,000 new cases will occur in the United States [1]. In 2010, Arizona and California were the two states with the highest incidence of Coccidioidomycosis, with 186 new cases per 100,000 population in Arizona and 11.5 new cases per 100,000 in California [1]. From 2000-2011, there were 25,217 hospitalizations for 15,747 patients in California [3]. Many patients were readmitted because they relapsed at least once after their medication prescription ended. This totaled over $2 billion in hospital bills [3]. Over the years, the highest communities at risk have been men, people over the age of 65, Hispanics, Filipinos, Native Americans, pregnant women, and those with
The organism adheres to the epithelial cells in its host by pilli. This opportunistic pathogen can affect people of all ages and specifically targets patients that have immune deficiencies, debilitating diseases, and infants in the NICU. Patients are at greater risk of contracting the organism if they have recently had a surgery, mechanical ventilation, central venous catheter, arterial catheterization, inhalation medication therapy, tracheal tubes, or have low apgar scores. It can cause a variety of diseases and infections such as urinary tract infections, meningitis, pneumonia, respiratory tract infections, keratoconjunctivitis, osteomyelitis, keratitis, endocarditis, cutaneous infections, and endophthalmitis. (Currey,
All humans have come into contact with some form of fungi at some point in their lives. Sometimes fungi produce large mushroom like structures, or sometimes they just appear as small wisps of hair. But with so many different forms and variations of fungi, sometimes they become hard to classify, and there is confusion as to whether it maybe a plant or bacteria. Buckholz et al (2016) state that the fungal kingdom deserves to be neither a prokaryote not a plant. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that contain a membrane bound nucleus. They are also heterotrophic and consume their carbon. The main difference between animals and fungi is that fungi perform their digestion externally (Buckholz et al. 2016). This leads to the importance of fungi: decomposing. Fungi maintain crucial processes in terrestrial ecosystems as decomposers of dead plant tissues and mutualistic partners of almost all terrestrial multicellular organisms (Heilmann-Clausen et al. 2015). Without fungi,
In response to these comments, it was then that the FDA added three additional pathogens to the list of qualifying pathogens: Coccidiodes species, Cryptococcus species, and Helicobacter pylori. Coccidiosis species, Cryptococcus species, and Helicobacter pylori. Coccidiosis is a disease caused by fungi from the genes of Cryptococcus that affect living organisms such as humans and animals. Living organisms usually contract this by inhaling the fungi, thus resulting in lung infection that can travel to the brain causing further harm for the organism. Two individuals were first identified with the fungus between 1894 and 1895. The Cryptococci’s can be found worldwide. The main way that disease is spread is also through inhalation with the particular fungus that happens to be associated with several species of bird, particularly old pigeon waste and bat guano.
Issachar tried to kill Candide with his sword when he saw him with Cunegonde, but instead Candide killed Issachar. After that, they went to the Old Woman to decide what they should do with the dead body and then the Inquisitor came in, and Candide killed him too. They eventually came to a decision and left to a little town called Avacena. Cunegonde was robbed and someone stole her moidores and diamonds. The Old Woman thought that the friar that stayed at the friar that stayed at their inn was the thief. Later, they wanted to travel to Cadiz, so they sold one of the horses for money. The Old Woman recalls a story from her past about how she was married to a man, but he died after a while. The Woman and her mother went on a boat, where all of
By far the most common causes of invasive fungal infections are members of the genus Candida. Candida is a dimorphic fungus and it the highest investigated and most common fungal pathogen in humans, capable of evading the human complement system. Yeast may lives within the intestinal environment of the human body and usually causes no major health issues. But due to various environmental factors Candida can change into an invasive multicellular form from a unicellular or yeast form and begins to reproduce very rapidly. As it spreads it builds a biofilm that can range from thickness and begins to multiply within 24 hours of colonization as a means of protection.
Once infected with the fungus, it usually targets the lungs and central nervous system, but may also affect other parts of the body. The infection is called Cryptococcosis. The infection is not at all contagious; as a matter of fact one
Cryptococcosis is the most common systemic fungal infection in cats. It is caused by the Cryptococcus neormans fungus and is found in soil and bird droppings throughout the world. Young cats are affected most often with about 50 percent of cases affecting the nasal passages. This is a serious infection that, if not quickly treated, can result in meningitis and death. Another 25 percent of the cases are cutaneous cryptococcosis. This condition produces swelling over the bridge pf the nose, face or neck. Outdoor cats are more likely to be infected as they prowl. Symptoms of neurologic cyrptococcosis can include
Mucormycosis “refers to several different diseases caused by infection with fungi in the order of Mucorales” (Crum-Cianflone, N. F. 2015). Mucormycosis infections are life-threatening and a severe infection affecting the facial sinuses, and subsequently the brain, is common. Mucormycosis is a Fungi found in soli and decomposing such as wood and leaves. Transmission to human beings occur through inhalation of the spores in the atmosphere or through broken skin. When inhaled, the spores develop in the lungs, sinuses, eyes, face and in rare cases spreads to the central nervous system. Broken skin can also allow entry of the spores as a results of cuts and scrapes. Pulmonary mucormycosis usually occurs in patients with blood cancer, neutropenia
Left untreated the infection can get worse, and spread to other parts of the body. Since the fungus grows in the soil with the fecal matter of birds and bats the portal of entry is through the nose. Most people who breathe in the spores do not get sick but those with weakened immune system are more susceptible to infection. “In patients with a poorly functioning cell- mediated immunity such as those with HIV infection and low CD4 count, the infection ensues and widely disseminated. (Young and Goldman 2006) Someone with a healthy immune system breathes in the fungus may experience no symptoms at all. A person with a weaken immune system may experience flu like symptoms. Symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, chills, headache, chest pains and body aches. (CDC 2014) It takes anywhere from 3 to 17 days for the symptoms to appear and anywhere from a few weeks to a month for the infection to heal. (CDC 2014) If the infection is worse than it may become a permanent lung infection. (CDC
Pneumocystis jiroveci is an opportunistic unicellular fungal pathogen that is widespread in the environment and thought to enter the body via airborne transmission. It also represents one of the several microorganisms that can cause life-threatening infection in patients with advanced HIV
The objective of this study is to examine the role of the pathogen, Cryptosporidium parvum in human health and disease and public health. Included will be the appropriate microscopic, cultivation and non-cultivation methods for the chosen pathogen and the application to clinical microbiology processing for that bacterium. Also examined will be human and microbe relationships and an analysis of the virulence factors of microorganism and host factors to types and outcomes with public health emphasized. Crytosporidium parvum in as infectious agent reported to have the following characteristics: (1) Coccidian protozoa; sporozoa; (3) sexual and asexual cycles in a single host; (4) sporotoites, tophozoites and merozoites all attach to epithelial cells (typically intestinal cells); and (5) mature oocyst contains four thin, flat motile sporozoites (204 by 6-8µm). (Public Health agency of Canada, 2013, p.1)
Normally the body is protected by the immune system. When the immune system detects an unwelcome visitor such as fungi, bacteria and or viruses
After internalization of C. albicans in phagocytes, it has been observed that the target fungal pathogen like any other microbial pathogen follows the path from phagosomes to phagolysosomes and gets fumigated and killed. During infection, Candida species are exposed to higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and antimicrobial peptides, low pH and reactive chloride species (HOCl) inside macrophages and neutrophils, and survival through these harsh conditions is essential for establishing disease and virulence. C. albicans evolved systems to directly scavenge the ROS produced by host cells and establish systemic infection. C.