Paper II
2024 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) · 40 marks · 120 min

Question

Define dimorphic fungi with two examples

Q52 marksShort Notes

Answer

Dimorphic fungi are fungi capable of existing in two distinct morphological forms depending on temperature — a filamentous mould at ambient temperature (25°C) and a yeast (or spherule, one exception) form at body temperature (37°C) in host tissue.

Two examples:

  1. Histoplasma capsulatum — mould with tuberculate macroconidia at 25°C; small intracellular yeast (within macrophages) at 37°C; causes histoplasmosis.
  2. Sporothrix schenckii — mould at 25°C; cigar-shaped budding yeast at 37°C; causes sporotrichosis.

(Other valid examples: Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Talaromyces marneffei.)

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