Immunopathology of Mycotic Infections

Fungi are ubiquitous in man’s environment. Most of them, however, are saprophytic and do not cause diseases in man and animals. Some are invasive, and can cause disseminated disease in individuals who are apparently “normal.” In this category are such organisms as Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Coccidioides immitis. Even after infection with these organisms, most individuals recover spontaneously without the need for chemotherapy, while only a small percentage tend to develop a disseminated mycotic infection, which may or may not respond to chemotherapy.