10.
General principles of Laboratory
diagnosis of fungal diseases
Competency
MI1.1: Describe the different causative agents of Infectious diseases and the methods used in
their detection, and discuss the role of microbes in health and disease
Specific Learning Objectives: At the end the session, the students shall be able to,
Recognize the need for laboratory diagnosis of viral infections
Enumerate major fungal pathogens and the infections/diseases caused by them
Identify major fungal pathogens based on the morphology (yeast, molds etc.)
Discuss general steps involved in the diagnosis of fungal infections
Enumerate the common fungal culture media
Enlist common tests/methods for fungal identification.
Compare and contrast the laboratory methods used in the diagnosis of fungal
infections with bacterial infections
Exercise 10:
1) Explain the need for laboratory diagnosis of fungal infections
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Rapid detection & accurate identification of fungal pathogens are critical for patient care.
Diagnosis of a fungal infection begins with a physical examination, discussion of the
symptoms & collection of specimens.
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2) Enumerate major fungal pathogens and the infections/diseases caused by them
Fungi Infection/Disease caused Fungi Infection/Disease caused
Tinea Tinea versicolor Blastomyces Blastomycosis
dermatitidis
Trichophyton Dermatophytosis Candida Candidiasis
albicans
Rhinosporidium Rhinosporidiosis Aspergillus Aspergillosis
seeberi flavus
Histoplasma Histoplasmosis Fusarium Fusariosis
capsulatum species
3) Write the common fungal culture media and their uses
Culture media Uses
Sabouraud dextrose agar/ Most commonly used media in diagnostic
Mycology
For selective growth of fungi from a highly
Sabouraud dextrose agar with antibiotic contaminated specimen
with actidione
Brain heart infusion agar & blood agar For growing fastidious fungi
CHROM agar for Candida Selective / differential media for speciation
of Candida
Niger seed & bird seed agar Used for selective growth of Cryptococcus
4) Write the common fungal identification tests/methods and their uses
Identification tests/methods Uses
Gram stain Identify yeast & yeast-like fungi
Periodic Acid Schiff stain Detects live fungi
India ink & Nigrosin stain Demonstrates capsule of Cryptococcus
KOH preparation To see fungal hyphae & other fungal
elements clearly
8) Write the differences between laboratory methods used for the diagnosis of fungal
infections and bacterial infections
Fungal diagnostic methods Bacterial diagnostic methods
Microscopy - KOH mount, Gram stain, Microscopy - Gram stain, ZN stain,
LPCB, etc. fluorescent stain, etc.
Culture - SDA, Selective media Culture - Blood agar, MacConkey agar,
Selective media, MHA
Serology - ELISA, Serology - Slide & tube agglutination tests,
immonohistochemistry ELISA, Fluorescent antibody test
Molecular methods - PCR Molecular methods - PCR
