Phaeohyphomycosis

As Phäohyphomykose (English Phaeohyphomycosis ) (Greek φαιός phaiós: dark; ὑφή hyphe: tissue; μύκης mykes: fungus), refers to a chronic infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue with various pigmented fungi that occurs in cattle, horses, cats and dogs.

Pathogen

The Phäohyphomykose is a fungal infection caused by fungi of the genera Alternaria, Bipolaris, Cladophialophora, Curvularia, Exophiala ("black yeast " ), Fonsecaea, Moniliella, Phialophora, and Ramichloridium Scolecobasidium can be triggered. These fungi occur in the normal environment frequently and feed on organic material ( saprophytes ). Get it with a skin lesion in a wound, it can cause an infection there.

Symptoms

A Phäohyphomykose manifested by ulcerous, pyogranulomatous, nodular skin lesions. Knot formation may also occur in the airways, particularly in the nose. The nodular changes are slow-growing and may form fistulas. Inside they contain pigmented hyphae that are irregularly enlarged.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is made by microscopic examination of emerging from the lesion and outflow of biopsies in which pigmented hyphae 2-6 microns in diameter can be detected at the end of conidiophores are 6-12 microns in diameter, which contain the spores. Microscopically, the different pathogens can not be distinguished. The exact excitation can be determined by PCR or fungal culture. As a differential diagnosis are tumors, granulomas of other origin and epidermoid cysts in question.

Therapy

The infection is usually limited to skin and subcutaneous tissue. Treatment of choice is surgical removal of the lesion (excision ). Alternatively, a treatment with antifungal agents are contemplated. Drugs of choice are amphotericin B and itraconazole.