Mucorales

Mucorales belong to the fibrous micromycetes, zygomycetes, which are also called true fungi. They are the cause of numerous systematic mycoses, but also saprophytes on plant substrates (eg grain, fruit). They mainly cause zygomycosis, which can be divided into rhinocerebral and pulmonary, as well as infections of severe burns, sepsis and otomycosis of the external auditory canal.

Mucorales invade the walls of large blood vessels and, due to their rapid growth, form venous thrombi made up of hyphs, leukocytes and thrombocytes, triggering a life-threatening embolism that can lead to the death of the attacked.

It creates unsung hyphs and is furry in appearance with a brownish-gray colour. They grow well in a petri dish, where there will be a massive increase in air mycelium. They produce mycotoxins, which get lodged in food and burns. Effective therapeutics include amphotericin B only.

Among the most important genera are: Absidia spp., Rhizomucor spp., Mucor spp., Rhizopus spp.

Absidia spp.
With the Absidies, it is important to remember that they form clusters of sporangiofores at the top of the arcs of the tables and small rhizoids. They have pointed columula with typical apophysis and are more sensitive to multiple antifungals. Amphotericin B and itraconazole are primarily used in therapy.

The most important agent is A. corymbifera, which causes external otitis, pneumonia and other infections in predisposed individuals.

Mucor spp.
Unlike the Absidis, he has no rhizoids. They are genera that form branched sporangiofores, similar to Rhizomucor. Important representatives are M. piriformis and M. plumbeus. They cause rhinocerebral mycoses, otomycoses and infections of extensive burns. Amphotericin B is used for therapy. Or M. mucedo, which degrades food.

Rhizopus spp.
Rhizopus, on the other hand, produces huge rhizoids, over which sporangiophor bundles are found, and between them, arcing tables. The collusion is shaped like an umbrella, the sporangioconids are grooved. Prominent representatives are R. arrhizus and R. microsporus. They cause diseases like Mucor spp..

Other minor members are Cunninghamella spp., which is known for hospital diseases and Syncephalastrum spp., but which has little pathological application to humans.

Related articles

 * Pneumonia
 * Dermatomycoses

Literature

 * VOTAVA, Miroslav, et al. Lékařská mikrobiologie speciální. 1. vydání. Brno : Neptun, 2003. 495 s.  ISBN 80-902896-6-5.


 * JULÁK, Jaroslav. Úvod do lékařské bakteriologie. 1. vydání. Praha : Karolinum, 2006. 404 s.  ISBN 8024612704.



Recommendation

 * BEDNÁŘ, Marek, Andrej SOUČEK a Věra FRAŇKOVÁ, et al. Lékařská mikrobiologie : Bakteriologie, virologie, parazitologie. 1. vydání. Praha : Marvil, 1996. 558 s.  ISBN 8023802976.