Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis is a chronic disease of humans and animals caused by various types of imperfect fungi of the genus Blastomyces, in particular the causative agent of gramnepesiosis of rabbits, or white muscle disease.

Some imperfect fungi of the genera Penicillium (ascenospores), Aspergillus (spermation), Fusarium (fusarium) are also capable of blastoma formation. Some species of the genus Mucor are toxigenic. The source of infection is a sick person and farm animals (rabbits, rodents, chickens, dogs). It is transmitted via airborne droplets and aerogenous, less often alimentary, transmission routes.

The main conditions for the development of the parasitic process are the state of the macroorganism, the ambient temperature and the massiveness of the infecting dose of the fungus. The primary localization of the process is often generalized with a weak immune response of the patient. One of the pathogenicity factors of blast-producing fungi of the genus Penicilliurn is the ability to rapidly grow in various media, except for liquid media without support. Because of this, opportunistic microorganisms identified in the patient’s sputum acquire the ability to form hyphae. This leads to the entry of individual units of the parasite’s mycelium into the patient’s bronchi. This moment becomes the initial link in the humoral and cellular components of the body’s immune response. As a result of histamine intoxication from decaying parasitic mycelia, the blood secretes ETZ and complement components. Substances from the allergen group affect the bronchial mucosa and cause an increase in bronchial hypertension (bronchospasm). Parasitic fungi cause eosinophilic infiltration of the mucous membrane and multiple hemorrhages. Loss of mucous cells and destruction of tissue structures lead to the development of polyposis-fibrous processes.

Bleeding from the mucous membranes and periodontal disease contribute to the infection of the blood and lymph flow system by microorganisms. They become part of the infectious agent and begin to determine its antigenicity. The antigenic composition of ectoparasites also influences the formation of resistance of the host organism to a progressive disease.