PAULO, Crislaine Flaviane Marques.
Abstract:
Zygomycosis is an infection caused by fungi from class Zygomycetes, which has a
high mortality rate. According to the order which belongs the fungus causing the
disease; Mucorales and Entomophthorales, zygomycosis can also named
mucormycosis or entomophthoromycosis. One of the main genuses of fungi that
cause infection are Rhizopus, belonging to the order Mucorales. The main clinical
forms of mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus spp. are the forms: pulmonary,
rhinocerebral, cutaneous and gastrointestinal. The research on the key mechanisms
of pathogenicity of this fungus, the major risk factors that make a major cause of
mucormycosis and new treatment options, was the objective of this work. The
material used in this review was obtained by searching in databases free data as
SciELO, PubMed, Bireme, Science Direct, Lilacs, Medline and Medscape. The main
risk factors associated with infection by Rhizopus spp. are associated with failures in
the immune system, as occurs in transplant patients, who are making use of
corticosteroids or chemotherapy. Diabetes mellitus also proved to be an important
risk factor for mucormycosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis is the most important risk factor
because accentuates pathogenic characteristics of Rhizopus spp. as angioinvasion
and iron uptake. The standard treatment of mucormycosis is done with amphotericin
B was shown to be nephrotoxic. Some authors reported the antifungal activity against
Rhizopus spp. new substances, such as colistin, chitosan and thymol . Other studies
have shown efficacy in the treatment using combinations of known antifungal agents.
To make possible the development of new therapeutic options is necessary to better
understanding the mechanisms of pathogenicity of Rhizopus spp. and subsequent
correlation with host risk factors.
