Pulmonary Aspergillosis
Abstract
Classification
Pneumomycoses are among the most interesting non-tuberculous chest diseases because of their relative rarity. Aspergillus lung infection is one of the more common forms of mycotic infestation of pulmonary tissue. Of the thirty-seven better-known strains of aspergillus, fumi-gatus and niger seem to be the only pathogens. Aspergillus fungi are classified as members of the filamentous group and are practically ubiquitous in nature.
Castellani1 has classified fungi (which may produce lesions simulating pulmonary tuberculosis) as follows:
| 1. | “Yeast-like” fungi | Blastomyces |
| Cryptococcus (torula) | ||
| Saccharomyces | ||
| Monilia | ||
| Endomyces | ||
| 2. | Filamentous fungi | |
| a. Slender type | Nocardia | |
| Anaeromyces | ||
| Vibriothrix | ||
| b. Larger type | Oidium | |
| Hemispora | ||
| c. Types with characteristic conidial structures, fructifications, etc. | Aspergillus | |
| Penicillium | ||
| Mucor | ||
| Rhizomucor | ||
| Acrimoniella | ||
| Sporotrichum | ||
| Acladium |
History
Pneumomycosis was first described by Hughes Bennett in 1842. In 1853 Rayer and later Gairdner described cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in which the pleurae were invaded by a fungus. Virchow, in 1856, described several cases of aspergillary mycoses of the lungs and bronchi. Dieulafoy, Chautmesse, and Widal in 1890 described clinically several cases of pulmonary aspergillosis occurring in persons who were engaged in fattening pigeons for the Paris market, and they advanced the idea that the infection was a primary one.
In 1897 Renon brought forth a very complete monograph on the subject, experimental as well as clinical. He considered it to be a trade disease among those undertaking the artificial feeding of pigeons and those manipulating hair and hair products. He believed the disease to be rare outside of Paris. The infecting agent he. . .
