Aspergillus

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Aspergillus is a branching fungus that is widely distributed in the soil it is frequently inhaled and often can be found in the respiratory tract. It reproduces by spore formation. The organism is Eukaryotic and has a true nucleus. It has both Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Unsurprisingly, it is not susceptible to many antibacterials and the similarity of its nuclear material to the human makes its eradication from the infected patient more difficult. It is not invasive unless the patient is immune compromised. The fungus can grow in the cavities left by pulmonary fibrosis and old tuberculosis, where the site is isolated from the normal immune response. It then forms a fungus ball with a typical crescent of air delineating its margin. In asthma the presence of the fungus can stimulate a violent local allergic reaction and pulmonary eosinophilia with high levels of IgE.

Various anatomic expressions of pathology.

a case of mycetoma in old tuberculosis
a case of mycetoma in ankylosing spondylitis
a case of mycetoma in old tuberculosis
a case of aspergillosis in asthma

Ian Maddison 1998