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Aspergillus: Pathogens and Diagnosis

This document discusses the fungus Aspergillus. It notes that A. fumigatus is the main opportunistic pathogen, and other important species include A. niger, A. flavus, A. terreus, and A. nidulans. Aspergillosis is caused by inhalation of Aspergillus spores when host defenses are compromised, and there are three clinical forms: respiratory disease, invasive aspergillosis, and superficial infections like sinusitis. The laboratory diagnosis involves examining sputum, biopsy, or bronchoalveolar lavage samples under direct microscopy for identifying Aspergillus at the genus or species level based on growth rate and microscopic characteristics.

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165 views18 pages

Aspergillus: Pathogens and Diagnosis

This document discusses the fungus Aspergillus. It notes that A. fumigatus is the main opportunistic pathogen, and other important species include A. niger, A. flavus, A. terreus, and A. nidulans. Aspergillosis is caused by inhalation of Aspergillus spores when host defenses are compromised, and there are three clinical forms: respiratory disease, invasive aspergillosis, and superficial infections like sinusitis. The laboratory diagnosis involves examining sputum, biopsy, or bronchoalveolar lavage samples under direct microscopy for identifying Aspergillus at the genus or species level based on growth rate and microscopic characteristics.

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bindu dhanapal
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Aspergillus

Dr.D.Bindu
Assistant Professor
Department of Microbiology
Aspergillus
• Aspergillus are ubiquitous in nature
• A.fumigatus is the main opportunistic
pathogen.
• Other important species are A.niger, A.flavus,
A.terreus and A.nidulans.
Aspergillosis
• Caused by inhalation of Aspergillus conidia or
mycelial fragments which are present on the
decaying matter, soil or air.
• When the host defence is compromised,
aspergillosis may develop.
• There are three clinical forms of systemic
aspergillosis.
Respiratory disease
• Aspergillus asthma:
Hypersensitivity to aspergilli may occur in atopic
individuals following inhalation of spores of
aspergilli.
Bronchopulmonary aspergillosis:
The fungus grows within the lumen of the
bronchioles, which may be occluded by fungus
plugs. Some patients may expectorate mucus
plugs containing fungus.
Invasive Aspergillosis
• Invasive or disseminated aspergillosis occurs in
severely immunocompromised individuals.
• The fungus first establishes in lung tissue and
then disseminate to involve other organs
particularly brain, kidney and heart.
Superficial infections
• Sinusitis – A.flavus and A.fumigatus
• Mycotic keratitis – A.flavus and A.fumigatus
• Otomycosis – Species of Aspergillus,
particularly A.niger
Laboratory diagnosis
Specimens:
• Sputum
• Bronchoalveolar lavage
• Biopsy
Direct microscopy
Aspergillus flavus
Macroscopic appearance:
Colonies are granular, yellowish green or brown in colour.
Growth rate:
Rapid grower.
Colonies appear within 2 days of inoculation on SDA.
Microscopic appearance:
1.Slender, septate hyphae
2. Condiophores with single or double row of sterigmata.
3. Sterigmata arise from3/4th of the entire circumference of vesicle.
4. Conidia are sphercial and form long chains
A.flavus
Aspergillus niger
Macroscopic appearance on SDA:
1. Colonies are wooly in texture and dark brown
– black in colour.
2. Reverse is buff coloured.
Growth rate:
Colonies appear in 1-2 days.
Microscopic appearance: LPCB mount

• Slender, Septate hyphae


• Condiophore is of variable length with double
row of stergimata covering the entire vesicle.
• Black conidia are produced from the
sterigmata.
Aspergillus fumigatus
Macroscopic appearance:
• Colonies of A.fumigatus are powdery in
texture and bluish green to brown in colour.
• Reverse is white to tan in colour.
Growth rate:
Colonies appear within 1-2 days of incubation on
SDA.
Macroscopic appearance of Aspergillus fumigatus
Microscopic appearance:LCB mount:
1.Septate slender hyphae.
2.Smooth conidiophore with a single row of
sterigmata.
3.Flask shaped vesicle.
4. Conidia covers only upper half of the vesicle.
Microscopic appearance of A.fumigatus
THANK YOU

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