Kingdom Fungi

Patients with primary immunodeficiencies are susceptible to Aspergillus species infections, particularly when cell-mediated immunity is compromised.

This fungi is usually as a saprophytic contaminant. World-wide, known as an insect parasite. Sympodial development of single-celled conidia on a narrow geniculate or zig-zag rachis emanating from a flask-shaped conidiophore.

It is a common human pathogen causing pulmonary, rhinocerebral, disseminated, CNS  zygomycosis. It is a small
pyriform shaped sporangia with a characteristic conical shaped columellae and pronounced apophysis.

Candida dubliniensis has recently been recognised from the oral cavity of HIV-infected patients and are most frequently implicated in cases of recurrent infection, following antifungal drug treatment.

Dermatophytosis of the scalp, glabrous skin, and nails is caused by dermatophytes which have the ability to utilise keratin as a nutrient source. No living tissue is invaded, the keratinised stratum corneum is simply colonised.

It is a mycotic infection of humans and animals caused by a number of different fungi, and actinomycetes characterised by draining sinuses, granules and tumefaction. The disease results from the traumatic implantation of the aetiologic agent, and usually involves the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue.

Zygomycosis in the debilitated patient is the most acute and fulminate fungal infection known. The disease typically involves the rhino-facial-cranial area, lungs, gastrointestinal tract and skin It is often associated with acidosis, diabetes, malnourished children, severely burned patients, and other diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma.

Candida norvegensis is a very rare clinical isolate that has been reported as a causative agent of peritonitis, and disseminated candidiasis in a patient on CAPD.

Pythium insidiosum is the causative agent of swamp cancer especially in horses, mainly in wet tropical environments. Infections are characterised by tumour-like masses, which develop mostly on the legs.

It is a rare cause of subcutaneous, sinusitis, endocarditis, peritonitis and disseminated infection in immunosuppressed patients.

Pneumocystis pneumonia is a disease caused by the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii. It is one of the most frequent and severe opportunistic infections in people with weakened immune systems, particularly people with HIV/AIDS.

Mortierella wolfii is an important casual agent of bovine mycotic abortion, pneumonia and systemic mycosis. It has also been isolated from soil, rotten silage, hay and coal spoil tips.

This is the incorrect statement as fungi lack chloroplasts and are heterotrophic organisms and require preformed organic compounds as energy sources.

A. flavus is the major producer of carcinogenic aflatoxins in crops worldwide. It is also an opportunistic human and animal pathogen, causing aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals.

Aspergillus parasiticus is a mold known to produce aflatoxins,  which is a potent liver carcinogen. It is closely related Aspergillus flavus.