Pythium insidiosum

Pythium insidiosum is a species of Pythium and a member of the class oomycota. Pythium insidiosum is mainly found in standing water and occasionally soil. Unlike most Pythium species, which are generally pathogens of terrestrial plants, Pythium insidiosum is a pathogen of mammals. It causes pythiosis,[1][2] mainly in horses, dogs, and humans. It can also cause disease in cats.[3] It is a non-transmissible disease and occurs mainly in tropical climate, endemic to Thailand, affecting mainly humans and horses and in Brazil, affecting mainly horses. Infection can occur in healthy mammals. The pathogen is well-adapted to mammalian body temperature, with an optimum temperature for growth of 34–36 °C (93–97 °F).

Pythium insidiosum
Ulcerative and destructive skin lesion in a dog caused by "Pythium insidiosum"
Ulcerative and destructive skin lesion in a dog caused by Pythium insidiosum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Chromista
Phylum: Oomycota
Order: Peronosporales
Family: Pythiaceae
Genus: Pythium
Species:
P. insidiosum
Binomial name
Pythium insidiosum
De Cock, L.Mend., A.A.Padhye, Ajello & Kaufman

The cell walls of Pythium insidiosum are composed of β-glucans and cellulose (compared to the chitin walls of fungi), and their cytoplasmic membranes lack sterols, molecules that are targets of antifungals. For this reason, infection caused by Pythium insidiosum is difficult to treat.

References
  1. Schurko AM, Mendoza L, Lévesque CA, Désaulniers NL, de Cock AW, Klassen GR (May 2003). "A molecular phylogeny of Pythium insidiosum". Mycol. Res. 107 (Pt 5): 537–44. doi:10.1017/S0953756203007718. PMID 12884950.
  2. Krajaejun T, Imkhieo S, Intaramat A, Ratanabanangkoon K (February 2009). "Development of an Immunochromatographic Test for Rapid Serodiagnosis of Human Pythiosis". Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 16 (4): 506–9. doi:10.1128/CVI.00276-08. PMC 2668273. PMID 19225072.
  3. "Oomycosis". The Merck Veterinary Manual. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
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