What Am I? by

Cultures

laceymjenkins — 2013-05-05 19:54:40 UTC

At room temp on SABHI agar, a white/moist colony
will form. Later turning into a fluffy white mycelium.
This organism can be grown on Blood or Chocolate
agar.

B E W A R E ! ! !

laceymjenkins — 2013-05-05 19:56:12 UTC

I am a fungas that is Highly Contagious.

Microscopics

laceymjenkins — 2013-05-05 19:57:39 UTC

A tease mount of a colonly will reveal hyphal
branching at a 90* angle. Many appear to be thick
walled, barrel-shaped arthroconidia with alternating
empty disjunctor cells.

Opportunists

laceymjenkins — 2013-05-05 20:05:50 UTC

Gymnoascus uncinatus
Auxarthron sp.
Malbranchea sp.

Pathogenicity

laceymjenkins — 2013-05-05 20:06:39 UTC

I am known to cause San Joaquin Fever.
I reside in the soil of desert areas such as the ones in southwestern United States. You catch me by breathing in infected dust.

60% will develop asymptomatic respiratory infections while the other 40% will develop primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis.

Other Facts

laceymjenkins — 2013-05-05 20:24:40 UTC

20% of AIDS patients develop this infection everyyear due to a decreased immune system. Havinga strong immune system is what's important infighting off this infection.
Pulmonary complications such as cavity formation or persistent pneumonia occur in 5% of adults, especially for those who already have pre-existing lung diseases or diabetes mellitus.
This organism may spread from the lungs to bones, joints, skin, subcutaneous tissue, internal organs, brain, and lymph nodes. However, the most common sites of invasion are skin, musculoskeletal system, and central nervous system.

Prognosis

laceymjenkins — 2013-05-05 20:25:38 UTC

I am fixable! The outcome for primary pulmonary disease

can turn out good with proper medical care. However,

disseminated mycosis can be fatal. The deeper this infection

goes into the body, the more serious it becomes.

microscopically

laceymjenkins — 2013-05-05 20:43:32 UTC

laceymjenkins — 2013-05-05 20:47:54 UTC

CASE STUDY

laceymjenkins — 2013-05-05 21:36:45 UTC

A young man who has been ill most of his life decided to start traveling the

United States. His first trip was to go down to Arizona to visit the Painted Desert.

While walking around, he became thirsty and started digging in the ground

for the roots of a cactus plant to drink its water. After traveling back home

to southern Los Angeles, he developed chronic pneumonia. Being sick most

of his life, he didn't think about it and was treated for it. However, 6 months

go by and he continues to be sick, only this time the infectionhas spread to

his bones. The doctor then takes X-Rays and CTs of his lungs as well as a

biopsy and sends it back to the lab for testing.

Tell me what this young man has!!