Microorganisms

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Microorganisms show-up every once in a while. It is essential to know 'em.

Microorganisms

Fungi

Name (disease) Kingdom Size Shape Stains Other (microscopic) Clinical References Image
Aspergillus (aspergillosis) Fungi ? Hyphae that branching
with 45 degrees angle
PAS-D Fruiting heads when aerobic ? Immunosuppression [1] Aspergillus (WC), Aspergillus cytology (WC)
Zygomycota (zygomycosis);
more specific
Mucorales (mucormycosis)
Fungi ? Branching hyphae with variable width ? Granulomata assoc. Diabetes, immunodeficient [1] Mucormycosis (homestead.com), Zygomycosis (WC)
Coccidioides, usually C. immitis
(coccidioidomycosis)
Fungi Large - 20-60 micrometers,
endospores 1-5 micrometers
Spherules Stains? Other? Immunodeficient [1] Coccidioidomycosis (med.sc.edu) C. immitis (WC) (webpathology.com)
Histoplasma (histoplasmosis) Fungi 2-5 micrometers Spherical GMS Intracellular (unlike candida), granulomata Source: soil with bird droppings [1] Histoplasmosis (WC)
Blastomyces (blastomycosis) Fungi 5-15 micrometres Spherical (yeast) Stains? Granulomas, broad-based budding yeast Habitat: Northeast America, Africa [1][2] Blastomyces
Paracoccidioides (paracoccidioidomycosis) Fungi 6-60 micrometres Spherical (yeast) Stains? Multiple budding "steering wheel" appearance Clinical??? [1] P. brasiliensis (WC).
Pneumocystis jirovecii (pneumocystis pneumonia; abbrev. PCP) Fungi (previously thought to be a protozoan) 7-8 micrometres "Dented ping-pong ball" GMS Usually in clusters of alveolar casts with a honeycomb appearance HIV/AIDS associated [3] PCP (WC)
Cryptococcus (cryptococcosis) Fungi 5-15 micrometres Yeast GMS Prominent (i.e. thick polysaccharide) capsule HIV/AIDS associated, most common CNS fungus [1] Crytococcosis - methenamine silver (WC), Crytococcosis - mucicarmine (WC).

Notes:

  • Bold text = key features.

Fungi

  • There are lots of 'em. Below are a few of 'em.

Terminology:[4]

  • Hyphae = microscopic filamentous growth (of fungi) -- single cell.
  • Mycelial = filamentous network of hyphae.
  • Septae/septation = hyphae may be subdivided by septae -- if they aren't they are one mass of protoplasm. (?)
  • Dimorphism = exist in two forms; e.g. single cell (yeast) and mycelial growth.
  • Pseudohyphae = looks like hyphae --but branching pattern is created by separate cells.[5]

Tissue invasive fungi

Typically:[6]

  • Mucor.
  • Aspergillus.

List

Worms & stuff

Schistosoma

See Urine cytopathology.
  • Associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Microscopic

Features of ova:

  • Elliptical ~80 micrometres max dimension.
  • S. haematobium has a "spike" approx. the size of a PMN.

Image:

Toxoplasma

General

  • Common CNS infection.
    • Toxoplasma gondii - pathogenic; causes toxoplasmosis.
  • Protozoa.

Microscopic

General:

  • Dependent on location in body.

Lymph node

LN features:[7]

  • Reactive germinal centers (pale areas - larger than usual).
    • Often poorly demarcated - due to loose epithelioid cell clusters at germinal center edge - key feature.
  • Epithelioid cells - perifollicular & intrafollicular.
    • Loose aggregates of histiocytes (do not form round granulomas):
      • Abundant pale cytoplasm.
      • Nucleoli.
  • Monocytoid cells (monocyte-like cells) - in cortex & paracortex.
    • Large cells in islands/sheets key feature with:
      • Abundant pale cytoplasm - important.
      • Well-defined cell border - important.
      • Singular nucleus.
    • Cell clusters usually have interspersed neutrophils.

Images (lymph node):

CNS

CNS features:[8]

  • Granular appearing ball ~ 2x the size of resting lymphocyte.

Images (CNS):

IHC

  • IHC for toxoplasma.[9]

Strongyloidiasis

General

  • Causes by worm Strongyloides stercoralis.
  • High case mortality rate ~ 70%.[10]
  • May present after years of latency due to immune suppression.[11]

Location:

  • Lung. (???)

Microscopic

Features:

  • Long worms.
  • ~10-15 micrometers wide.

Images:

Echinococcus

Microscopic

Features:

  • Laminated wall +/- calcification.[12]
  • Organisms:
    • Hooklets.
    • Scoleces - knoblike anterior end of a tapeworm.[13]

Enterobius vermicularis

  • AKA pinworm.

Features:[14]

  • Ovoid eggs - double walled shells, one side flat.

Images:

Trichinella

General

  • Causes Trichinosis.
    • Classically associated with uncooked pork.[15]
  • Several types; most due to T. spiralis.[15]

Microscopic

Features:

  • Worm.

Image:

Cysticercosis

General

  • Caused by Taenia solium; pork tapeworm.
  • May cause epilepsy; most common parasitic CNS infection.[17]

Viruses

This is a fairly big topic. There are about half a dozen viral inclusions (e.g. CMV, HSV, VZV, adenovirus) a decent pathologist ought to be able to identify. The virus article covers 'em.

Bacteria

This is a small topic when considered from the perspective of an anatomical pathologist. Most stuff is sorted-out by microbiology.

Microorganisms and cancer

A number of microorganisms are associated with the development of cancer:[18]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Lefkowitch, Jay H. (2006). Anatomic Pathology Board Review (1st ed.). Saunders. pp. 682. ISBN 978-1416025887.
  2. http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/mycology/mycology-6.htm
  3. Lefkowitch, Jay H. (2006). Anatomic Pathology Board Review (1st ed.). Saunders. pp. 684. ISBN 978-1416025887.
  4. http://www.fungionline.org.uk/1intro/3growth_forms.html
  5. http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/mycology/mycology-3.htm
  6. CM 17 Apr 2009.
  7. Ioachim, Harry L; Medeiros, L. Jeffrey (2008). Ioachim's Lymph Node Pathology (4th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 113. ISBN 978-0781775960.
  8. URL: http://moon.ouhsc.edu/kfung/jty1/opaq/PathQuiz/N0I001-PQ01-M.htm. Accessed on: 19 October 2010.
  9. URL: http://moon.ouhsc.edu/kfung/jty1/opaq/PathQuiz/N0I001-PQ01-M.htm. Accessed on: 19 October 2010.
  10. Lim, S.; Katz, K.; Krajden, S.; Fuksa, M.; Keystone, JS.; Kain, KC. (Aug 2004). "Complicated and fatal Strongyloides infection in Canadians: risk factors, diagnosis and management.". CMAJ 171 (5): 479-84. doi:10.1503/cmaj.1031698. PMID 15337730.
  11. Siddiqui, AA.; Berk, SL. (Oct 2001). "Diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis infection.". Clin Infect Dis 33 (7): 1040-7. doi:10.1086/322707. PMID 11528578.
  12. Mitchell, Richard; Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelson; Abbas, Abul K.; Aster, Jon (2011). Pocket Companion to Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. pp. 448. ISBN 978-1416054542.
  13. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/scoleces. Accessed on: 10 January 2010.
  14. Lefkowitch, Jay H. (2006). Anatomic Pathology Board Review (1st ed.). Saunders. pp. 685. ISBN 978-1416025887.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Kaewpitoon N, Kaewpitoon SJ, Philasri C, et al. (October 2006). "Trichinosis: epidemiology in Thailand". World J. Gastroenterol. 12 (40): 6440–5. PMID 17072975. http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/12/6440.asp.
  16. URL: http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/EXAM/IMGQUIZ/msfrm.html. Accessed on: 5 December 2010.
  17. Prasad KN, Prasad A, Verma A, Singh AK (November 2008). "Human cysticercosis and Indian scenario: a review". J. Biosci. 33 (4): 571–82. PMID 19208982.
  18. Mitchell, Richard; Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelson; Abbas, Abul K.; Aster, Jon (2011). Pocket Companion to Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. pp. 168. ISBN 978-1416054542.