A 40-year-old man noticed a reddening and an edema of skin in the area of his neck that later developed into a small abscess. The incised focus is dense, yellowish-green. The pus contains white granules. Histological examination revealed drusen of a fungus, plasmatic and xanthome cells, macrophages. What type of mycosis is the most probable?

Answer options

1. Actinomycosis
2. Coccidioidomycosis
3. Aspergillosis
4. Sporotrichosis
5. Candidosis

Explanation

Actinomycosis is a rare infectious bacterial disease caused by Actinomyces species. They are all gram-positive. Actinomyces species are facultatively anaerobic (except A. meyeri and A. israelii both obligate anaerobe), and they grow best under anaerobic conditions. Actinomyces species may form endospores, and, while individual bacteria are rod-shaped, Actinomyces colonies from fungus-like branched networks of hyphae. The disease is characterized by the formation of painful abscesses in the mouth, lungs, breast, or gastrointestinal tract. Histological examination reveals drusen of a fungus, plasmatic and xanthoma cells, macrophages.