Date: 26 November 2013
Copyright: n/a
Notes:
Aspergillus and other filamentous fungi produce clusters of spores known as fruiting bodies, which correspond with the mushrooms that other groups of fungi produce. They are very useful in diagnosing fungal diseases because their structures are strongly characteristic of different species.
Aspergillus was originally named for its fruiting body because it was thought that they resemble as aspergillum, which is a device used for sprinkling holy water.
In this picture, scanning electron microscopy has been used to visualise the fruiting body and false colour has been added to highlight the different parts.
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PtDS2 –Repeated chest infections arrested by itraconazole therapy in ABPA and bronchiectasis
DS2 developed asthma age 24 and now aged 62. From about age 30 she started getting repeated chest infections and a few years later ABPA and bronchiectasis was diagnosed. Infections continued requiring multiple courses of antibiotics annually. At one point DS2 developed a pneumothorax, possibly because of excess coughing. She has chronic rhinitis and mannose binding lectin deficiency. In May 2011, she started itraconazole therapy, and has needed no antibiotic courses for her chest since. Her rhinitis with sinusitis occasionally bothers her. She is delighted to have gone 18 months with no chest infections.
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Aspergillus hyphae (arrow) in the lumen without invasion of the necrotic bronchial wall (*) (Nicod 2001).
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fibrinonecrotic material (arrow) from the airway shown in A, with subocclusion of the bronchial lumen (*)
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Fibrinous or pseudomembranous bronchitis (arrow) with subocclusion of the airways (* indicates subocclusion of the airways by pseudomembranes)
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Bronchoscopic biopsy demonstrated septate hyphae with branching at 45o (methenamine silver stain ×400).
