According to DoctorFungus.org, fungi, which are plant-like organisms that lack chlorophyll, exist as budding yeasts or molds. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, yeastlike fungi include Candida and Cryptococcus. Molds include Aspergillus, Rhizopus and ringworm. The fungi causing endemic mycoses, or histoplasmosis and blastomycosis as well as sporotrichosis, have two forms: appearing as spheres when growing in tissue but fuzzy on culture media.
Candida
According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," Candida albicans most commonly causes minor mucosal candidiasis, or thrush and vaginitis. Candida can also cause serious localized or disseminated infections.
Aspergillus
According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," Aspergillus fumigatus, the most common cause of aspergillosis, grows in the environment on decaying vegetation. Inhalation of spores occurs very commonly; however, invasion of lung tissue occurs almost exclusively in immunocompromised patients. Mortality rates of invasive aspergillosis approach 80 to 90 percent in stem cell transplant patients, according to the Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program.
Histoplasmosis
The dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum occurs predominately in the southeastern, mid-Atlantic and central parts of the United States. The fungus causes histoplasmosis, an acute pulmonary disease. Mild or asymptomatic infections account for the majority. Outbreaks of histoplasmosis have occurred in college students visiting Mexico and in cave explorers in Costa Rica, according to the Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program.
Sporotrichosis
Sporothrix schenckii, the fungus causing sporotrichosis, lives on many plants. It occurs worldwide but more commonly in tropical and subtropical America. Infection results from innoculation of the fungus due to minor trauma. Rose gardeners acquire the illness by pricking themselves with a thorn from a rose. The majority of cases involve localized lesions affecting the skin and subcutaneous tissues, with minimal if any systemic manifestation, according to DoctorFungus.org.
References
- Doctor Fungus: Introduction
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Dennis Kasper, M.D.; 2005
- Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program, MKSAP 13: Infectious Disease Medicine: Antiviral Agents for Cytomegalovirus Infections; Paul Epstein, Editor; 2003
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