Paracoccidioidomycosis

Paracoccidioidomycoses 

Causative Agent

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, dimorphic fungus.

Chronic granulomatous disease involving;

Skin, lungs, mucosa, skin, lymphatic system.

Source of Infection

By inhalation of spores from environmental source.

Contaminated dust is major source of inhalation.

Morphology

Grow yeast cells with multiple buds in tissues and in cultures at 37 degree Celsius and in mycelial phase at 25 degree Celsius.

Pathogenesis

Pathogen enters lungs through inhalation and causes infection in mucosa of mouth and nose.

Yeast form is observed in infected tissue.

Laboratory Diagnosis

Specimen collection

Sputum, pus, skin biopsy.

KOH preparation

Slow thick walled cells with multiple buds.

Culture of SDA

Show colonies single or multiple thick walled budding cells.

Treatment

Treatment with Amphotericin B may be useful.