Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The pathogenic members of Class Zygomycota belong to one of two
subclasses: Class Mucorales or Class Entomophthoramycotina. Infection with
any zygomycote is known as zygomycosis. When the infectious agent is
known to be a member of Class Mucorales, the disease is more specifically
known as mucormycosis. Class Mucorales account for the bulk of infections
caused by zygomycotes. Regardless of the Mucorales species, the clinical
infections are similar. Common primary sites of infection are lungs, gastrointes-
tinal tract, kidneys, and skin. Sinus infections, spreading to the nasopharynx,
eyes, and brain, seem to have a particular affinity for diabetic individuals.
Primary infections tend to be invasive, and may lead to disseminated disease.
Rare infectious genera in Class Mucorales, aside from those listed here,
have recently been isolated: Cokeromyces, Saksenaea, Apophysomyces, and
Chlamydoabsidia [102].
Infections caused by genera of Class Entomophthorales produce a some-
what different clinical picture than that of Class Mucorales. The ento-
mophthoramycoses are most often primary skin infections, and they can
occur in immune-competent hosts. Infections caused by Genus Basidiobolus
often arise on the trunk and thighs. Infections from members of Genus
Conidiobolus typically arise on the nose and face [104].
Infectious species:
Mucorales:
Rhizopus oryzae (mucormycosis, zygomycosis)
Mucor indicus (mucormycosis, zygomycosis, phycomycosis)
Mucor racemosus (mucormycosis, allergic skin reaction)
Absidia corymbifera (mucormycosis, zygomycosis)
Syncephalastrum racemosum (mucormycosis, zygomycosis, nail infec-
tion)
Entomophthorales:
Basidiobolus ranarum (basidiobolomycosis, zygomycosis, entomoph-
thoramycosis)
Conidiobolus coronatus (conidiobolomycosis, zygomycosis, entomoph-
thoramycosis)
Conidiobolus incongruus (conidiobolomycosis, zygomycosis, entomoph-
thoramycosis)
