Assignment 20

Please select all of the correct answers which describe thermal dimorphism.

- The temperature where the fungus is growing determines the form it takes - Most fungi do not display dimorphism.

Please choose the accurate description of an opportunistic pathogen.

Impairment of host defenses allows the infection

Please choose the answer that represents the most important immune defense for protection against fungal infections.

Inflammatory reaction

Please choose a genus that represents dermatophytes.

Trichophyton

Please choose the answer that explains the cutaneous infections seen in ringworm.

Underlying tissues below skin do not contain keratin, a major nutrient source for these fungi.

Histoplasma capsulatum

grows well in bird and bat droppings

Coccidioides immitis

has greatest virulence of mycotic pathogens and distinctive morphology

Blastomyces dermatitidis

often results in a chronic infection involving skin lesions

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

rarest primary mycoses due to limited distribution

Direct examination of patient samples for fungi (by staining, wet mounts, etc.) is a standard diagnostic procedure because the fungi are very slow to grow on microbiological media.

true