ABSTRACT
Aspergillus fumigatus is a primary pathogen of man and animals and causes aspergillosis. It sporulates abundantly, and the spores enter the body via the respiratory tract and lodge in the lungs or sinuses. In immunocompetent hosts, fungal conidia are cleared by ciliated epithelium of the terminal bronchioles and ingested by tissue or alveolar macrophages and neutrophils. Diminished neutrophil function in immunodeficient individuals can lead to pathological conditions. The spectrum of pulmonary diseases caused by A. fumigatus is grouped under the name of aspergillosis. These conditions vary in the severity of the course, pathology, and outcome and can be classified according to the site of the disease within the respiratory tract, the extent of fungal invasion or colonization, and the immunological competence of the host. The optimal methods of diagnosis are related to the clinical types and vary from non-invasive CT scan, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), ELISA to bronchoscopy and lung biopsy, although prolonged neutropenia represents a serious enough reason for starting early treatment. For ABPA, high doses of corticosteroids are recommended, for the other three clinical types – anti-fungal drugs such as voriconazole.
