Blastomyces dermatitidis and Blastomycosis

BLASTOMYCOSIS

Kingdom: Fungi

Phylum: Ascomycota

Class: Euascomycetes

Order: Onygenales

Family: Onygenaceae

Genus: Blastomyces (Blastomyces dermatitidis is the only species included in this genus.)

Blastomycosis, also called Gilchrists Disease, is caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis. This fungus is thermally dimorphic and a probable saprobe of the soil. It specifically inhabits decaying wood material, animal feces, plant fragments, and insect remains. Soil with an bitter pH and a high organic content is contributive to growth. At room temperature and in its natural site in soil, it grows as a mold. However, when the spores are inhaled and environmental temperature is elevated , B. dermatitidis conidia change over into invasive large yeasts.

While this is not a common disease, it does conk sporadically in the US. In the U.S.A., the endemic area for blastomycosis includes the Ohio, Missouri, and manuscript river valleys and Midwestern states bordering the Great Lakes. There are estimated 1-2 nerves per 100,000 people in these endemic areas, which all permit close proximity to waterways. Although a review of death records for 2002 indicated blastomycosis was the reported underlying cause of death for 44 persons in the United States, epidemiologic patterns for this disease have not been fully characterized because blastomycosis is not nationally notifiable. It is a reportable disease only in Wisconsin and small, local areas of other states.



fit to the CDC, there is a 5% mortality rate. African-type B. dermatitidis strains isolated from cases in Africa also exist. It was demonstrated that the African-type strains are not identical to the normality American strains.

The disease is transmitted by inhaling spore-laden dust. Person-to-person contagious disease does not occur. It is more common in men who produce in outdoor occupations (construction, farming, etc.) Analysis of information regarding sporadic case reports suggests the risk for disease may be greater among old (35-55 years)...

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