Title: Pythium insidiosum

{{Short description|Species of single-celled organism}}
{{Speciesbox
|image =Pythiosis 2.jpg
|image_alt =Ulcerative and destructive skin lesion in a dog caused by &quot;Pythium insidiosum&quot;
|image_caption =[[Ulcerative]] and destructive [[skin lesion]] in a dog caused by ''Pythium insidiosum''
|genus = Pythium
|species = insidiosum
|authority = De Cock, [[L.Mend.]], [[A.A.Padhye]], Ajello &amp; Kaufman
}}

'''''Pythium insidiosum''''' is a species of ''[[Pythium]]'' and a member of the class [[Oomycete|oomycota]]. ''Pythium insidiosum'' is mainly found in standing water and occasionally soil. Unlike most ''Pythium'' species, which are generally [[Plant pathology|pathogens of terrestrial plants]], ''Pythium insidiosum'' is a pathogen of [[mammal]]s. It causes [[pythiosis]],&lt;ref name=&quot;pmid12884950&quot;&gt;{{cite journal |vauthors=Schurko AM, Mendoza L, Lévesque CA, Désaulniers NL, de Cock AW, Klassen GR |title=A molecular phylogeny of Pythium insidiosum |journal=Mycol. Res. |volume=107 |issue=Pt 5 |pages=537–44 |date=May 2003 |pmid=12884950 |doi= 10.1017/S0953756203007718}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=&quot;pmid19225072&quot;&gt;{{cite journal |vauthors=Krajaejun T, Imkhieo S, Intaramat A, Ratanabanangkoon K |title=Development of an Immunochromatographic Test for Rapid Serodiagnosis of Human Pythiosis |journal=Clin. Vaccine Immunol. |volume= 16|issue= 4|pages= 506–9|date=February 2009 |pmid=19225072 |doi=10.1128/CVI.00276-08 |url= |pmc=2668273}}&lt;/ref&gt; mainly in [[horse]]s, [[dog]]s, and humans. It can also cause disease in cats.&lt;ref name=&quot;Merck_oo&quot;&gt;{{cite web | title=Oomycosis | work=The Merck Veterinary Manual | url=https://www.merckvetmanual.com/generalized-conditions/fungal-infections/oomycosis | access-date=2019-06-17 }}&lt;/ref&gt;  It is a non-transmissible disease and occurs mainly in tropical climate, endemic to Thailand, affecting mainly humans and horses and in Brazil. Infection can occur in healthy mammals. The pathogen is well-adapted to mammalian body temperature, with an optimum temperature for growth of {{convert|34-36|°C}}.

The [[cell wall]]s of ''Pythium insidiosum'' are composed of [[β-glucan]]s and [[cellulose]] (compared to the [[chitin]] walls of [[fungi]]), and their [[cytoplasmic membrane]]s lack [[sterol]]s, molecules that are targets of antifungals. For this reason, infection caused by '''''Pythium insidiosum''''' is often difficult to treat.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q7263886}}

[[Category:Cat diseases]]
[[Category:Dog diseases]]
[[Category:Horse diseases]]
[[Category:Pythium|insidiosum]]
[[Category:Oomycete species]]
[[Category:Protists described in 1987]]

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