Pathogens chromoblastomycosis

Chromoblastomycosis (chromomycosis) is a chronic granulomatous inflammation with a lesion of the skin, subcutaneous tissue of the legs. Chromoblastomycosis is caused by many fungi, including Fonsecaea ctmpaeta, Fonsecaea pedroaoi, Phiahphora verrucosa, Ctadophiatophora carrionii, Exaphiala jeamelmei, Rilinosporidium seeheri. Many of them are dimorphic fungi. They include (along with the causative agents of feigiophomycosis and mycetoma) to demacic fungi, characterized by a brownish-black hue of the colony and the cell walls of the fungal elements. A dark shade is due to the presence of melanins in them.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5],

Morphology and physiology

Pathogens are found in tissues and exudates in the form of clusters of round dividing cells (diameter 10 μm). Fungi grown on Saburo medium form fluffy colonies of dark brown tones, consisting of septic mycelium and various types of conidia.

Pathogenesis and symptoms of chromoblastomycosis

Infection occurs when the causative agent enters the microtraumas of the skin, and more often on the feet and legs. Within a few months or years on the skin, warty nodules are formed, abscesses and scar changes appear. Around the primary lesion, convex satellite changes are formed in the form of cauliflower. Cellular immunity prevails in patients, HRT develops.

Epidemiology of Chromoblastomycosis

Pathogens live in the soil and on plants, in rotten wood. They are transmitted by contact. The patient is not contagious to others. Chromoblastomycosis is more common in the tropics and subtropics.

[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13],

Microbiological diagnosis of chromoblastomycosis

In pathological material treated with a 15% solution of KOH, brown rounded cells of the pathogen of 10-12 microns are detected. So-called sclerotia with partitions. The exception is Exophiala, characterized by the formation of septate hyphae, as well as Rhinosporidium seeber, which forms sporangia and sporangiospores.

When cultivated on Saburo agar at 20-25 ° C, the pathogens of chromoblastomychosis form slow growing colonies (11 days in height) consisting of black septate mycelium and various types of conidia.

Treatment of Chromoblastomycosis

Chromoblastomycosis is treated with itraconazole and 5-flucytosine. Surgical removal of affected areas is also performed.

How to prevent chromoblastomycosis?

Prophylaxis of chromoblastomychosis has not been developed.