Aspergillosis is a disease caused by the Aspergillus mold, which is common and can be harmful to individuals with weakened immune systems or lung disorders. The document outlines the types, transmission, symptoms, and treatment of aspergillosis, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and the use of antifungal therapies like voriconazole. It also provides historical context and morphological details of Aspergillus species.

1. ASPERGILLOSIS
VARSHINI, S.
III B.Sc. MICROBIOLOGY
PG & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY,
NATIONAL COLLEGE [AUTONOMOUS]
TIRUCHIRAPPALLI - 620001
TAMIL NADU , INDIA.

2. ASPERGILLUS
● Common ubiquitous mold
● A species of mold that is found all over the world
● More than 185 different types of Aspergillushave been identified
andmore arecontinuingtobeidentified.
● For people with healthy immune systems, breathing in
Aspergillus isn't harmful but for the people with suppressed
immunity or hypersensitivity it causes disease called
aspergillosis.

3. ASPERGILLOSIS
● Transmission of this disease occurs by inhalation of the spores
● Out of 185 species only 20 species cause disease
● Only 3 out of 20 are constantly cause disease regularly in almost
all cases
A.flavus,A.niger ,A.fumigatus
● It affects the people with lung disorders,tuberculosis or when
they undergone any organ transplantation where the cannot
fight this disease due to immunosuppression.
● Some types of aspergillus.sp can cause variety of disease that
ranges from simple allergic disease to life threatening invasive
disease.

4. HISTORY
● Aspergillus was named by Pier Antonio Micheli, an Italian priest and biologist
in 1729 when cataloging molds , the molds resemble an aspergillum (a holy
water sprinkler )
● 1863 A. fumigatus was first described by physician Georg W Fresenius
● In 1842 John Higes Bennett described aspergillosis in lungs
● The first reports of fungal or Aspergillus sinusitis were made in the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries, and descriptions of fungal sinus disease began to
proliferate in the nineteenth century.
Georg W Fresenius John Higes Bennett

5. MORPHOLOGY
● Produces conidial spore which is chain like in
structure
● Septate hyphae (2.5-8.0μm)
● Sterigmata-small supporting structure that
Commonly refers to basidium (spore bearing cells )
● Conidiospore -spore producing structure
● Foot cell -basal cell of conidiospore

7. INVASIVE ASPERGILLOSIS
● themostsevereformofaspergillosis
● affects individuals with weakened immune systems or those who have received
bonemarroworsolidorgantransplant
● It is characterized by infection that starts in the lungs and then rapidly travels
throughthebloodstreamtoaffectvariousorgansofthebody
● Symptoms - Affected individuals often develop fever, chills, headaches, a cough
that brings up blood (mild hemoptysis) or sputum, shortness of breath
(dyspnea),andchestpainandaspertheregionofinvasion.

8. PNEUMOMYCOSIS
● PNEUMOMYCOSIS (BROODER PNEUMONIA) - pneumonial
infection caused by fungi
● Symptoms -coughing, wastage of muscles , lethargy, anorexia
(loss of appetite),lymph node enlargement and oculonasal
discharge H&E stain showing a fungal pneumonia (pulmonary
aspergillosis)

9. SYSTEMIC ASPERGILLOSIS
● The most serious form of invasive aspergillosis is systemic aspergillosis
● Spread of infection to other parts of the body like brain, heart ,kidney
● Symptoms -fever, chest pain,cough , dyspnea , other symptoms can also occur
according to the infected part of the body
Diffuse invasive aspergillosis observed in
autopsy lung tissue

10. ASPERGILLOMA
● aspergilloma-Fungal ball that
develops in a pre-existing cavity in
the lung parenchyma
● Symptoms - coughing of blood ,
dyspnea .

11. ALLERGIC PULMONARY SYNDROME ASSOCIATED
WITH ASPERGILLOSIS
● This type of aspergillosis occur only to the individual with long
term asthma or cystic fibrosis
● Symptoms -Initial response with allergy and also include chronic
wheezing , shortness in breath ( dyspnea) and a feeling of poor
health also causes chest pain and cough that brings up blood
● Can also end up in bronchiectasis and loss of lung function if
untreated

13. DIAGNOSIS
● Examining lung tissue by taking biopsy
● Orbital and ophthalmology examination
● Blood sample determine the immune system and body’s reaction to fungus
● Isolation of sputum sample is highly risk due to the immune suppression of the
patients
● HRCT scan is also used for diagnosis
● Observation of granulomas in respiratory tissue
NORMAL CT CT with IPA

14. TREATMENT
● Voriconazole for primary treatment of pulmonary aspergillosis
● For high risk patient combination of voriconazole and echinocandin
drugs are used as antifungal therapy
● This antifungal drugs are taken for 6-12 weeks

15. THANK YOU