Mycoses

fungal diseases

 or mycoses

Diseases caused by any fungus that invades the tissues. Superficial fungal infections (e.g., athlete's foot) are confined to the skin. Subcutaneous infections, which extend into tissues and sometimes adjacent structures such as bone and organs, are rare and often chronic. In systemic infections, fungi spread through the body of a normal (or, more often, an immunosuppressed) host. Some fungal diseases (e.g., yeast infections) may be either superficial or systemic, affecting certain target organs.

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Mycoses 

diseases of humans and animals that are caused by parasitic fungi.

In humans The most common mycotic infections in humans are dermatomycoses. Some mycoses affect only humans and are transmitted from man to man or through infected utensils and apparel. Other mycotic infections are transmitted to humans by animals. Mycoses are classified according to which organs and tissues they infect. There are mycoses of the skin, hair, and nails (trichophytosis, microsporosis, favus); mycoses of the skin and nails (epidermophytosis, candidiasis); and mycoses of internal organs, that is, systemic mycoses (actinomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis). The development of mycosis in humans depends on the pathogenicity of the fungus, the defensive capabilities of the body and the infected organ, and environmental factors.

REFERENCE

Kashkin, P. N. Dermatomikozy, 2nd ed. Leningrad, 1954.
In animals Livestock, fur-bearing and other carnivorous animals, rodents, bees, and fishes are susceptible to mycoses. The causative agents of mycoses, upon penetrating the body, produce specific pathological processes on the skin and its derivatives (such superficial mycoses as trichophytosis, microsporosis, and favus) and in internal organs (such systemic mycoses as lymphangitis, sporotrichosis, streptotrichosis, North American blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and cryptococcosis). Superficial mycoses are ubiquitous; systemic mycoses are found predominantly in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

REFERENCE

Spesivtseva, N. A. Mikozy i mikotoksikozy zhivotnykh, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1964.

N. A. SPESIVTSEVA