Absidia corymbifera

A species of fungus in the family Mucoraceae

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Absidia corymbifera
Kingdom:	Fungi
Phylum:
Class:	Mucoromycetes
Order:	Mucorales
Family:	Mucoraceae

Absidia corymbifera is a species of fungus in the family Mucoraceae. It is a thermotolerant mold that is commonly found in soil, decaying plant material, and animal dung. A. corymbifera is of particular interest in medical mycology due to its role as an opportunistic pathogen in humans, causing a condition known as mucormycosis.

Morphology

Absidia corymbifera is characterized by its rapid growth and the production of woolly, grayish colonies. Microscopically, it features broad, non-septate hyphae and sporangiophores that are typically branched. The sporangia are pear-shaped and contain sporangiospores that are smooth-walled and ellipsoidal.

Pathogenicity

Absidia corymbifera is an opportunistic pathogen, primarily affecting immunocompromised individuals. It is one of the causative agents of mucormycosis, a serious fungal infection that can affect the sinuses, brain, lungs, and skin. The infection is often life-threatening and requires prompt medical intervention.

Risk Factors

Individuals at risk for infection include those with diabetes mellitus, particularly when poorly controlled, patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, and those with prolonged neutropenia.

Clinical Manifestations

The clinical presentation of mucormycosis caused by A. corymbifera can vary depending on the site of infection. Common forms include:

• Rhinocerebral mucormycosis: Involving the sinuses and brain, often presenting with facial pain, nasal congestion, and black necrotic lesions.
• Pulmonary mucormycosis: Involving the lungs, presenting with fever, cough, and chest pain.
• Cutaneous mucormycosis: Involving the skin, often at sites of trauma or surgical wounds.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Absidia corymbifera infection is typically made through a combination of clinical evaluation, imaging studies, and laboratory tests. Direct microscopic examination and culture of clinical specimens can reveal the characteristic morphology of the fungus. Histopathological examination of tissue biopsies can also aid in diagnosis.

Treatment

The treatment of mucormycosis caused by Absidia corymbifera involves a combination of surgical debridement of infected tissue and antifungal therapy. Amphotericin B is the drug of choice, although newer agents such as posaconazole and isavuconazole may also be used.

Prevention

Preventive measures include controlling underlying risk factors such as diabetes, minimizing exposure to environments with high fungal spore counts, and using prophylactic antifungal agents in high-risk patients.

Also see

• Mucormycosis
• Opportunistic infections
• Fungal diseases
• Mucorales