Pythium insidiosum: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
=Description and Significance= | =Description and Significance= | ||
''Pythium insidiosum'' is a pathogenic species of water mold (oomycete) that infects humans and animals, primarily horses, cattle, dogs, and cats [[#References |[2]]]. This microorganism is usually found in wet, swampy areas with dense vegetation [[#References |[2]]]. Exposure to this organism occurs via contact with the water in which it lives as well as plants it is living on. Infection by this pathogen leads to a disease called Pythiosis, which is characterized by large lesions on the skin and in tissues such as the gastrointestinal tract; it also has a high mortality rate [[#References |[3]]]. The issue of high mortality makes this pathogen a public health concern because infection advances quickly once it occurs; thus, early detection is crucial. ''P. insidiosum'' is well adapted to invading and thriving in its mammalian and plant host’s tissues; its life cycle and motile zoospores increase its pathogenicity as well as the rate at which infection progresses. To address this issue, substantial research has been conducted on early detection methods using polymerase chain reaction, antigen identification, and other molecular and serological assay techniques [[#References |[2]]] [[#References |[4]]] [[#References |[5]]]. Scientists have information about the organism itself in terms of its morphology and pathogenicity, yet more information is needed for early detection of this organism and rapid identification in a host, as well as genetic and structural information regarding this organism’s genome. ''P. insidiosum'' currently kills large amounts of livestock and food crops in tropical developing nations, leading to high rates of infection and death in humans living in countries such as Thailand where agricultural land is swamp-like [[#References |[5]]] [[#References |[6]]], and affects domesticated pets in southern parts of the United States [[#References |[6]]]. These events are presenting both economic and public health concerns that call for immediate attention. | |||
<br><br> | <br><br> | ||
Revision as of 07:58, 10 December 2014
Classification
Higher order taxa
Eukaryota; Stramenopiles; Oomycetes; Pythiales; Pythiaceae; Pythium
Species
|
NCBI: [1] |
Pythium insidiosum
Description and Significance
Pythium insidiosum is a pathogenic species of water mold (oomycete) that infects humans and animals, primarily horses, cattle, dogs, and cats [2]. This microorganism is usually found in wet, swampy areas with dense vegetation [2]. Exposure to this organism occurs via contact with the water in which it lives as well as plants it is living on. Infection by this pathogen leads to a disease called Pythiosis, which is characterized by large lesions on the skin and in tissues such as the gastrointestinal tract; it also has a high mortality rate [3]. The issue of high mortality makes this pathogen a public health concern because infection advances quickly once it occurs; thus, early detection is crucial. P. insidiosum is well adapted to invading and thriving in its mammalian and plant host’s tissues; its life cycle and motile zoospores increase its pathogenicity as well as the rate at which infection progresses. To address this issue, substantial research has been conducted on early detection methods using polymerase chain reaction, antigen identification, and other molecular and serological assay techniques [2] [4] [5]. Scientists have information about the organism itself in terms of its morphology and pathogenicity, yet more information is needed for early detection of this organism and rapid identification in a host, as well as genetic and structural information regarding this organism’s genome. P. insidiosum currently kills large amounts of livestock and food crops in tropical developing nations, leading to high rates of infection and death in humans living in countries such as Thailand where agricultural land is swamp-like [5] [6], and affects domesticated pets in southern parts of the United States [6]. These events are presenting both economic and public health concerns that call for immediate attention.
Edited by [Lindsay Smith], student of Jennifer Talbot for BI 311 General Microbiology, 2014, Boston University.
