The document describes Histoplasma capsulatum, the fungus that causes histoplasmosis. It resides in soil and can be transmitted through airborne spores. Most infections are asymptomatic, but acute infections may cause non-specific respiratory symptoms. Severe cases are treated with antifungal medications. About 250,000 cases occur annually in the United States.

1. Histoplasma
capsulatum
• Fungi kingdom
• Causes histoplasmosis, or http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/details.asp
Darling's Disease
• Resides in soil
• An infection transmitted by airborne spores
• Most people are asymptomatic
• Acute phase, non-specific respiratory symptoms
• If untreated, chronic phase may include prolonged
cough, fever, pericarditis, meningitis
• Antifungal medications are used to treat severe
cases
• 250,000 cases in US annually

2. Neisseria gonorrhoeae Lymphocyte
(gonococcus)
Streptococci
Leukocyte
Diplococci
• Gram (‐) http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/defect/images/
• Shape is cocci (meaning spherical): Neisseria-gonorrhoeae.jpg
– Gonococcus; diplococci (two cocci) or streptococci (string of cocci).
• Invades space between columnar epithelial cells:
– Located in the oral‐pharyngeal area, eyes, rectum, urethra, opening of
the cervix, and external genitals of prepubertal females.
• N. gonorrhoeae is pathogenic.
• Causes gonorrhea, an STI;
– Males experience painful urinaGon and a pussy discharge; females
may experience abdominal pain and PID.
• Cool Info:
– Named by Galen A.D. 150: gon = semen + rhea = flow; N. gonorrhoeae
aQaches to mucosa cells via fimbriae; all infants’ eyes are treated with
anGbioGcs at birth as a preventaGve measure.

3. Bordatella pertussis
• Gram negaGve
• coccobacillus
• Only known reservoir are humans and possibly other
higher primates, specifically colonizes the cilia of
their respiratory epithelium
• Pathogenic
• Whooping Cough, characterized by fever and
coughing in first stage, prolonged coughing ending in
a “whooping” sound.
• Aerobic
• Slow incubaGon period (3‐6 days)