Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 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

Middle ear effusion and fungi

Atsushi Murakami1, Takesi Tutumi, Kensuke Watanabe

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dokkyo Medical University Koshigaya Hospital, Koshigaya, Japan.

The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
|September 28, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Fungi were found in all cases of middle ear effusion in patients with otitis media with effusion (OME) and eosinophilic otitis media. This suggests fungi may play a role in the development of these conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Otitis media with effusion (OME) is common, but bacterial or viral causes are rarely identified.
  • Endotoxins in middle ear effusions suggest prior gram-negative infections, but the role of other microorganisms is less understood.
  • Fungi are increasingly recognized as potential pathogens in chronic sinonasal conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and potential role of fungi in middle ear effusions.
  • To examine middle ear effusions from patients with OME and eosinophilic otitis media (EOM).
  • To correlate fungal presence with clinical characteristics like viscous effusions and asthma history in EOM.

Main Methods:

  • Middle ear effusions and nasal secretions were collected from patients with EOM (n=7) and OME (n=12).
  • Specimens were processed for methenamine silver staining to detect fungal elements.
  • Microscopic examination, including light and electron microscopy, was performed on stained and embedded samples.

Main Results:

  • Fungal hyphae were detected in the middle ear fluid of all patients with EOM and OME.
  • Charcot-Leyden crystals (CLCs), indicative of eosinophil degranulation, were found in 6/7 EOM patients.
  • Fungal hyphae were also present in nasal secretions of all patients; CLCs were rare in nasal secretions.

Conclusions:

  • Fungi are consistently present in middle ear effusions in OME and EOM, suggesting a potential causative role.
  • The high incidence of CLCs in EOM middle ear fluid points to significant eosinophil involvement, possibly triggered by fungi.
  • Fungi may contribute to middle ear inflammation and effusion formation, particularly in EOM, by inducing eosinophil responses.

More Related Videos

Efficient Method for Imaging Murine Lungs that Preserves Spatial Dynamics of Fungal Spores in the Airways10:06

Efficient Method for Imaging Murine Lungs that Preserves Spatial Dynamics of Fungal Spores in the Airways

Published on: December 13, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Pleural Effusion I: Introduction01:25

Pleural Effusion I: Introduction

Pleural effusion is an abnormal fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity, a narrow space between the lungs and the chest wall. It is not a disease per se but rather a symptom or indication of an underlying disease. In normal circumstances, this space contains a small amount of fluid (5 to 15 mL), a lubricant facilitating the non-frictional movement of the pleural surfaces.
There are two main types of pleural effusion: transudative and exudative. They are differentiated using Light's criteria,...
Pleural Effusion II: Symptoms and Management01:28

Pleural Effusion II: Symptoms and Management

Pleural Effusion Overview
A pleural effusion is the abnormal collection of fluid between the parietal and visceral pleura layers of tissue that form the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. It can occur independently or due to surrounding parenchymal diseases, such as infection, malignancy, or inflammatory conditions.
Clinical Manifestations:
Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology01:29

Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of pneumonia involves the following steps:
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...