35
bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) (Latge 1999). Aspergilloma is a condition
typically seen in patients with previously grown cavities in the lungs, while ABPA
is generally found in patients with atopy and cystic fibrosis (Knutsen and Slavin
2011; Eaton et al. 1999; Denning et al. 2012). The failed immune system which is
not able to prevent the entry of Aspergillus spores to the bloodstream via the lungs,
which leads to the acute invasive aspergillosis stage.
Several groups of Aspergillus organisms, for example, A. flavus, A. fumigatus,
A. nidulans, A. niger, and A. terreus, are known to cause fungal infections (Perfect
et al. 2001; Baddley et al. 2001; Enoch et al. 2006). Among these fungi, A.fumigatus
is known to be accountable for more than 90% of infections, followed in occurrence
by A. flavus and A. niger (Lass-Florl et al. 2005; Balajee et al. 2009).
Aspergillosis is not transmissible from one person to another (Pegues et al.
2002). Symptoms of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis classically include fever,
shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, or hemoptysis, although also include asthma,
pneumonia, sinusitis, or rapidly progressing systemic illness.
3.1.2.1 Types of Aspergillosis
A wide range of diseases were caused by Aspergillus with respect to the health conditions and immune system of the individual, invasive aspergillosis to chronic forms
of aspergillosis. Aspergillus spare known to infect the open spaces found in the
human body which includes pulmonary cavities affected by previous lung disorders
(Bronchiectasis, Lung tumor and Tuberculosis), the sinuses and the infection of
external auditory canals.
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA): ABPA is a form of lung disease
that occurs due to Aspergillus infection, which is a hypersensitive reaction to
A. fumigatus. This allergic reaction causes lung inflammation and weakens the
immune system and leads to pulmonary fibrosis and finally lost lung function
(Denning 2001). ABPA is a complex syndrome to diagnose, it is mostly affects
the individuals who is having asthmatic patients and cyctic fibrosis patients
(Latgé 1999).
Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS): AFS is a common type of sinus fungal infection
where Aspergillus causes inflammation of the sinuses. Various symptoms caused
by this sinus infection include drainage, stuffiness, and headache. These patients
are known to develop nasal polyps and asthma, and also the sense of smell of the
patient is affected at chronic condition. When left untreated, this may lead to the
loss of vision in affected patients (McClay et al. 2002).
Aspergilloma: Aspergilloma is also referred to as “fungal ball” which is a rounded
mass of fungal hyphae ball that grows mostly in the lungs or sinuses. In most of
the cases, the fungal balls in the lungs are due to the inhalation of small spores of
3 Association of Fungal Siderophores in Human Diseases: Roles and Treatments
bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) (Latge 1999). Aspergilloma is a condition
typically seen in patients with previously grown cavities in the lungs, while ABPA
is generally found in patients with atopy and cystic fibrosis (Knutsen and Slavin
2011; Eaton et al. 1999; Denning et al. 2012). The failed immune system which is
not able to prevent the entry of Aspergillus spores to the bloodstream via the lungs,
which leads to the acute invasive aspergillosis stage.
Several groups of Aspergillus organisms, for example, A. flavus, A. fumigatus,
A. nidulans, A. niger, and A. terreus, are known to cause fungal infections (Perfect
et al. 2001; Baddley et al. 2001; Enoch et al. 2006). Among these fungi, A.fumigatus
is known to be accountable for more than 90% of infections, followed in occurrence
by A. flavus and A. niger (Lass-Florl et al. 2005; Balajee et al. 2009).
Aspergillosis is not transmissible from one person to another (Pegues et al.
2002). Symptoms of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis classically include fever,
shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, or hemoptysis, although also include asthma,
pneumonia, sinusitis, or rapidly progressing systemic illness.
3.1.2.1 Types of Aspergillosis
A wide range of diseases were caused by Aspergillus with respect to the health conditions and immune system of the individual, invasive aspergillosis to chronic forms
of aspergillosis. Aspergillus spare known to infect the open spaces found in the
human body which includes pulmonary cavities affected by previous lung disorders
(Bronchiectasis, Lung tumor and Tuberculosis), the sinuses and the infection of
external auditory canals.
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA): ABPA is a form of lung disease
that occurs due to Aspergillus infection, which is a hypersensitive reaction to
A. fumigatus. This allergic reaction causes lung inflammation and weakens the
immune system and leads to pulmonary fibrosis and finally lost lung function
(Denning 2001). ABPA is a complex syndrome to diagnose, it is mostly affects
the individuals who is having asthmatic patients and cyctic fibrosis patients
(Latgé 1999).
Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS): AFS is a common type of sinus fungal infection
where Aspergillus causes inflammation of the sinuses. Various symptoms caused
by this sinus infection include drainage, stuffiness, and headache. These patients
are known to develop nasal polyps and asthma, and also the sense of smell of the
patient is affected at chronic condition. When left untreated, this may lead to the
loss of vision in affected patients (McClay et al. 2002).
Aspergilloma: Aspergilloma is also referred to as “fungal ball” which is a rounded
mass of fungal hyphae ball that grows mostly in the lungs or sinuses. In most of
the cases, the fungal balls in the lungs are due to the inhalation of small spores of
3 Association of Fungal Siderophores in Human Diseases: Roles and Treatments