Contrast endemic and ubiquitous fungal infection, and describe two examples of each type

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Fungi termed endemic have specific climate and soil condition needed for their growth and are restricted to specific geographic areas. These infections may impact any person who inhales fungal spores. Ubiquitous fungi are widely distributed ecologically and geographically, and may even be members of the normal human microbiome. Ubiquitous fungal infections are also acquired when fungal spores are inhaled, but are generally a danger only to immunocompromised patients.
Specific endemic fungal infections include blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and histoplasmosis. Blastomycosis (Blastomyces dematitidis) is found in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence seaway regions. The fungus thrives in soils with decomposing plant matter and become airborne by digging, wood clearing, or construction. Treatment is available, but the infection has a 40% mortality rate in immunocompromised patients. Coccidioidomycosis (Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii) is also called Valley fever and is found in the semi-arid and dry areas of the southwestern United States, northern Mexico, and Central and South America. In the lungs, the fungi form multinucleated structures called spherules which contain fungal endospores. When the spherules rupture, the endospores are released and cause lung damage. Histoplasmosis (Histoplasma capsulatum) thrives in soil enriched with bird or bat droppings. The fungus is global but concentrated in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. Workers who are exposed to droppings are at greatest risk for infection, and immunocompromised patients are mostly likely to develop the disseminated, systemic form of the disease.
Three common ubiquitous fungal infections include aspergillosis, murcomycosis, and pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). Most people are exposed to aspergillus spores (Aspergillus fumigatus) on a routine basis; organ transplant patients and chemotherapy or corticosteroid recipients are most at risk to develop invasive disease, of which pulmonary and rhinocerebral are the most common forms. Murcomycosis (Rhizopus arrhizus) is found in soil enriched with rotting wood material. Invasive forms also include pulmonary and rhinocerebral disease. PCP (Pneumocystis jirovecii) is found in AIDS patients and others who are severely immunosuppressed. This fungus is not found in soil but probably is spread by asymptomatic human carriers. Preventative and treatment medications are available; untreated cases have a 100% fatality rate while treatment lowers mortality to 40%