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Penicillium - the causative agent of penicilliosis
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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[Morphology and physiology of penicillium
Penicilli form a mycelium from septate branching hyphae. At the end of the fruiting hypha (conidiophore), primary and secondary branchings are formed - metul I and II order (multistep brushes). From the tops of the metul go beams of bottle-shaped phialides bearing chains of rounded conidia of green, yellow-brown, pink or purple color. Elements of fungi are different: in P. Crustaceum brushes are two-, three- and many whorled, in P. Chrysogenum (previously P. Notatum), the brushes are asymmetrical, two- and three-knuckled, in P. Expansum (synonym: P. Giaucum) and multisteps: P. Mycetomagenum brushes one-, two- and three-muted, and conidia smaller than in the previous ones, with a diameter of up to 2.2 microns.
Pathogenesis and symptoms of penicilliosis
Penicillium causes penicilliosis in patients with weakened immunity. Pathogenesis and clinical manifestations are similar to aspergillosis. The basic immunity is cellular. Developed HRT. In Southeast Asia, P. Mameffci (a possible reservoir - bamboo rats) causes a disease similar to anthraxplasmosis. The fungus has a dimorphism: at 25 ° C a mycelium with a red pigment is formed, and at 37 ° C and in infected tissue - yeast.
Microbiological diagnosis of penicilliosis
In preparations (skin, nails, cornea, nasal sinus, external auditory canal, sputum, pus, feces, tissue biopsy) stained with hematoxylin and eosin, according to Romanovsky-Giemsa, according to Wright, long branching septate hyphae and large round conidia are revealed. Has the form of oval cells.