Histoplasmosis pathophysiology
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Pathophysiology
Transmission
- The areas contaminated with histoplasma microconidia are called microfoci and disturbance of these microfoci will result in exposure to the microconidia.
- The activities which expose the patient to histoplasma microconidia include farming, exposure to chicken coops or caves and sites where black birds have roosted.
- Histoplasmosis is typically acquired via inhalation of airborne microconidia, often after disturbance of contaminated material in the soil.
- In majority of the patients the infection is asymtomatic and resolves with host's immune response. In few patients inhalation of large amount of inoculum can result in an acute pulmonary infection with symptoms resembling pneumonia.
- The cell mediated immune response is by the T-lymphocytes which recognize the organism and induce the release of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma which provide protection aganist re-infection.
- The release of cytokines activates macrophages which inhibit the growth of the fungus and limit its spread to the surrounding tissue. This results in the formation of a granuloma wherein the fungus is present in a nonviable state.
- In patients with immunosuppression, they are unable to mount an adequate T-cell mediated immune response resulting in uncontrolled growth of the organism with spread to the surrounding tissue and increasing the morbidity and mortality of the infection.[1]
- Primary cutaneous histoplasmosis and solid organ donor-derived histoplasmosis have been observed although extremely uncommon.[2]
Gross pathology
Microscopic pathology
References
- ↑ Edwards JA, Rappleye CA (2011). "Histoplasma mechanisms of pathogenesis--one portfolio doesn't fit all". FEMS Microbiol Lett. 324 (1): 1–9. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2011.02363.x. PMC 3228276. PMID 22092757.
- ↑ Information for Healthcare Professionals about Histoplasmosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2015. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/histoplasmosis/health-professionals.html. Accessed February 2, 2016.