Case Report. Disseminated aspergillosis complicating pregnancy

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis
09:52

Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis

Published on: March 9, 2018

C Klock, M Cerski, A Dargel

    Mycoses
    |November 8, 2002
    PubMed

    Insights

    Disseminated aspergillosis, a fungal infection, occurred in a healthy pregnant woman. This rare case highlights the opportunistic nature of Aspergillus species during pregnancy.

    Area of Science:

    • Medical Mycology
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Pathology

    Background:

    • Disseminated aspergillosis is a severe fungal infection.
    • Pregnancy can alter immune status, potentially increasing susceptibility to opportunistic infections.

    Observation:

    • A healthy 24-year-old pregnant woman (24 weeks gestation) presented with disseminated aspergillosis.
    • Autopsy revealed Aspergillus hyphae in lung and liver tissues.
    • Cerebral infarction due to hyphal occlusion of cerebral vessels was observed.

    Findings:

    • No invasive aspergillosis was found in placental or fetal tissues.
    • Aspergillus species DNA was confirmed in lung tissue via PCR.
    • The case demonstrates a novel presentation of disseminated aspergillosis in pregnancy.

    Implications:

    • Highlights the need for increased clinical awareness of invasive fungal infections in pregnant individuals.
    • Suggests Aspergillus species can be opportunistic pathogens in pregnancy.
    • Underscores the importance of prompt diagnosis and management of invasive fungal infections during gestation.

    More Related Videos

    Detection of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Haematological Malignancy Patients by using Lateral-flow Technology08:01

    Detection of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Haematological Malignancy Patients by using Lateral-flow Technology

    Published on: March 22, 2012

    Related Concept Videos

    Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

    Cryptococcal Meningitis

    Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
    Fungal Phylum Ascomycota01:28

    Fungal Phylum Ascomycota

    Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
    Toxoplasmosis01:28

    Toxoplasmosis

    Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant public health challenges globally due to its high seroprevalence and varied clinical manifestations. As an obligate intracellular parasite, T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, but felids are its only definitive hosts, shedding unsporulated oocysts into the environment. Humans typically acquire the infection through ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from...
    Sexually Transmitted Infections01:26

    Sexually Transmitted Infections

    Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
    Amebiasis01:28

    Amebiasis

    Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...
    Teratogenicity01:07

    Teratogenicity

    The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...