The most common species causing aspergillosis is which of the following?

The most common species causing aspergillosis is which of the following?

• A. Aspergillus niger
• B. Candida albicans
• C. Aspergillus fumigatus
• D. Penicillium marneffei

Answer: (C)

Aspergillosis is most often caused by Aspergillus fumigatus because it is extremely common in the environment and releases tiny conidia that are easily inhaled and reach the lower airways. It tolerates human body temperature and grows rapidly in the lungs, allowing tissue invasion and blood vessel invasion, which drives the most clinically significant forms of the disease, especially in people with weakened immune defenses or lung damage. Aspergillus niger can cause fungal infections but is less commonly the cause of aspergillosis. Candida albicans is a yeast, not a mold, and it causes candidiasis rather than aspergillosis. Penicillium marneffei (now Talaromyces marneffei) causes disseminated infection in AIDS patients in parts of Asia, but it is not the typical agent behind aspergillosis.

Aspergillosis is most often caused by Aspergillus fumigatus because it is extremely common in the environment and releases tiny conidia that are easily inhaled and reach the lower airways. It tolerates human body temperature and grows rapidly in the lungs, allowing tissue invasion and blood vessel invasion, which drives the most clinically significant forms of the disease, especially in people with weakened immune defenses or lung damage.

Aspergillus niger can cause fungal infections but is less commonly the cause of aspergillosis. Candida albicans is a yeast, not a mold, and it causes candidiasis rather than aspergillosis. Penicillium marneffei (now Talaromyces marneffei) causes disseminated infection in AIDS patients in parts of Asia, but it is not the typical agent behind aspergillosis.