Pneumocystis
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| Image:Pneumocystis carinii 01.jpg P. jiroveci cysts in tissue
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- This article is about the fungal genus Pneumocystis. For the disease commonly known as pneumocystis or PCP, see Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia.
Pneumocystis is a genus of fungi which can be pathogenic in mammals. Originally classified as a protozoan parasite, Pneumocystis species have a number of unique morphological characteristics.
[edit] Pathology
Pneumocystis species can cause pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals; in humans, those with AIDS are particularly susceptible, with P. jiroveci as the causative organism.<ref>Hughes WT (1996). Pneumocystis Carinii. In: Barron's Medical Microbiology (Barron S et al, eds.), 4th ed., Univ of Texas Medical Branch. (via NCBI Bookshelf) ISBN 0-9631172-1-1.</ref> Also known as pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), the disease attacks the interstitial, fibrous tissue of the lungs, with marked thickening of the alveolar septa and alveoli and leading to significant hypoxia which can be fatal if not treated aggressively.
[edit] References
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[edit] External links
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