Blastomyces dermatitidis causes which mycosis?

Blastomyces dermatitidis causes which mycosis?

• A. Histoplasmosis
• B. Coccidioidomycosis
• C. Paracoccidioidomycosis
• D. Blastomycosis

Answer: (D)

Blastomyces dermatitidis causes blastomycosis. This fungus is thermally dimorphic and lives in soil and decaying organic matter in certain regions. Inhalation of its spores typically starts infection in the lungs, but it can spread to skin, bone, and other tissues, producing the classic presentation of blastomycosis with pulmonary symptoms often accompanied by skin lesions. The other fungi listed cause their own distinct diseases: Histoplasma capsulatum causes histoplasmosis, Coccidioides causes coccidioidomycosis, and Paracoccidioides causes paracoccidioidomycosis. In tissue, Blastomyces shows broad-based budding yeasts, a helpful clue that differentiates it from the small intracellular yeasts of Histoplasma, the large spherules of Coccidioides, or the multi-budded “pilot’s wheel” forms of Paracoccidioides.

Blastomyces dermatitidis causes blastomycosis. This fungus is thermally dimorphic and lives in soil and decaying organic matter in certain regions. Inhalation of its spores typically starts infection in the lungs, but it can spread to skin, bone, and other tissues, producing the classic presentation of blastomycosis with pulmonary symptoms often accompanied by skin lesions. The other fungi listed cause their own distinct diseases: Histoplasma capsulatum causes histoplasmosis, Coccidioides causes coccidioidomycosis, and Paracoccidioides causes paracoccidioidomycosis. In tissue, Blastomyces shows broad-based budding yeasts, a helpful clue that differentiates it from the small intracellular yeasts of Histoplasma, the large spherules of Coccidioides, or the multi-budded “pilot’s wheel” forms of Paracoccidioides.