Textbook Question
Historical journals have described gummas on patients. What disease most likely caused these lesions?
a. Ornithosis
b. Syphilis
c. Trachoma
d. Pneumonia
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21. Principles of Disease
Characteristics of Infectious Disease
2:14 minutesProblem 2
Textbook Question
Of the following fungi, which is usually transmitted from person to person?
a. Blastomyces dermatitidis
b. Coccidioides immitis
c. Tricophyton rubrum
d. Aspergillus fumigatus
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the nature of each fungus listed in the options, focusing on their typical modes of transmission.
Step 2: Recognize that Blastomyces dermatitidis and Coccidioides immitis are primarily environmental fungi acquired from soil and do not usually spread from person to person.
Step 3: Note that Aspergillus fumigatus is a common environmental mold, often inhaled from the environment, and is not typically transmitted between people.
Step 4: Identify that Trichophyton rubrum is a dermatophyte fungus that infects skin, hair, and nails and is well-known for spreading through direct human contact or contaminated surfaces.
Step 5: Conclude that among the options, the fungus usually transmitted from person to person is Trichophyton rubrum.
Verified video answer for a similar problem:This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above
Video duration:
2mKey Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Modes of Fungal Transmission
Fungi can be transmitted through various routes including inhalation, environmental exposure, or direct contact. Understanding how each fungus spreads is essential to identify which are contagious between people, such as those transmitted via skin contact versus those acquired from environmental sources.
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Characteristics of Dermatophytes
Dermatophytes like Trichophyton rubrum infect keratinized tissues (skin, hair, nails) and are commonly spread through direct person-to-person contact or contaminated surfaces. This makes them typical examples of fungi transmitted between individuals.
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Environmental vs. Person-to-Person Fungal Pathogens
Fungi such as Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis, and Aspergillus fumigatus are primarily acquired from environmental sources like soil or decaying matter, not through human contact. Recognizing this distinction helps differentiate contagious fungi from those that are not.
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