Mycology

General Features
• Eukaryotic, filamentous or unicellular, nonmotile
nonphotosynthetic
• Parasitic or saprophytic
• Asexual reproduction
– spore structures are important diagnostic aids
• Cell walls - 80-90% CHO (chitin, mannan, β-glucans,
cellulose) + protein (very little lipid: 1-7 %)
– Ergosterol is fungal sterol
• Molds and yeasts (True and Dimorphic)
• Dimorphic (yeast and mycelial forms)
– Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis, Histoplasma
capsulatum, Sporothrix schenckii
 Terminology

• Mycoses and mycotoxicoses

• Geophilic and Zoophilic
• Mycelium – mass of branching hyphae
• Hyphae – thread-like filaments comprise vegetative fungal
growth
– Septate hyphae – cross walls (Aspergillus spp.)
– Aseptate hyphae – ie. Rhizopus
– pseudohyphae - Candida albicans (yeast)

• Yeast: Unicellular (reproduce by budding)

 Asexual Spore Structures

• Arthrospores - i.e. Dermatophytes, Coccidioides

• Conidia (Macro- and Microconidia)

• Conidiospores

• Chlamydospores - Candida and Histoplasma

• Endospores - Coccidioides (spherule)

• Sporangiospores - Zygomycetes (Rhizopus, Mucor)

 Mycotic Infections
• General Features:

– Rarely Epidemic/Endemic - ie. low morbidity

– except Dermatophytes, Aspergillus (Histoplasma/Cryptococcus)
– biofilms (Candida) or intracellular (Histoplasma)

• Generally don’t cause disease in immune-competent animals

– Except Dermatophytes
– environmental load (Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, Coccidioides,
Histoplasma)

• Immunosuppressive Therapies
– Steroid, Radiation, Antineoplastics, Autoimmune Intervention (Azathioprine –
dogs)

• Prolonged treatment with Abx can predispose

 Laboratory Procedures

• Colony characteristics impt. Dx aids

• Sabourauds Media (culture temp. 22 - 25 oC)
– pH 5.6 º inhibits bacteria
– Abx (ie. PenG, Chloramphenicol), +/- Cycloheximide
• BA (Brain Heart Infusion Agar or Phytone Yeast Extract)
• 10 - 20% KOH wet mount
• Scotch Tape Mount in Lactophenol Cotton Blue (LPCB)
• Histological Stains: PAS (Periodic Acid Schiff),
Methenamine Silver, H+Eosin (Histoplasma )
• Panfungal PCR and sequencing
 Antifungals

• Polyenes (Fungicidal/static)
– Bind to ergosterol and compromise membrane integrity
– Nystatin - mucocutaneous candidiasis (C. albicans)
– Natamycin - mycotic keratitis (horses), Dermatophyte, candidiasis
– Amphotericin B - yeast, dimorphics (nephro/cardiotoxicity)
• dogs/cats, horses – i.v. only

• Imidazoles and Triazoles (Fungistatic/cidal) Topical/p.o.

– Block ergosterol → alter membrane permeability
– IMIDAZOLES - Ketoconazole (KTZ), Miconazole (MCZ),
Clotrimazole (CTZ),
– TRIAZOLES - Enilconazole (topical in Dogs, problems in cats),
Itraconazole (ITZ), Fluconazole (FCZ – p.o. + i.v.)
– Triazoles display wider spectrum of activity, fewer side effects.
 Antifungals Cont’d
• Flucytosine (5-fluorocytosine) typically with AMB or FCZ
– antineoplastic agent (not at antifungal doses)
– Indirectly inhibits DNA, protein synthesis (mRNA alteration)
– Surface receptor and enzyme necessary for effect
– Yeasts, Sporothrix in dogs/cats

• Griseofulvin (Penicillium griseofulvin) – oral (dogs/cats/horses, cattle)

– Inhibits microtubule assembly (mitosis compromised)
– Systemic antifungal effective against Dermatophytes
– Accumulates in keratin, teratogenic

• Iodides (Na or K)
– Txt for Sporothrix schenckii in horses

• Allylamine Antifungals
– Inhibit ergosterol synthesis
– Terbinafine (dogs/cats) – oral (dermatophytes)