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(AP NEWSWIRE story 48192634 1/6/07)

Marijuana Aspergillosis

by Hank L. Stoddard III, DM

Damp Marijuana is the perfect breeding ground for Aspergella and many 
thousands of other molds. Aspergillosis is the most common fungal infection 
in Marijuana smokers caused by aspergella fumigates. Although Marijuana 
smokers are commonly exposed to the spores of this fungus, they develop the 
disease only under certain conditions. If a human's immune system is 
suppressed by a concurrent illness, malnutrition or stress, it may become 
sick after exposure. Stress-induced Aspergillosis is frequently seen in 
Marijuana smokers subjected to surgery, stress, environmental changes, 
confinement, or sitting still for too long.

Aspergella, as well as other fungi, grows readily in damp, dark conditions 
with poor ventilation. Encrusted fecal matter, damp furniture, dirty feeding 
utensils and food that falls to the floor all encourage mold growth. 
Interestingly, we see a high incidence of Aspergillosis in Marijuana smokers 
in the southwest where the environment is dry and not conducive to fungal 
replication. The speculation is the low humidity, coupled with the dusty 
environment, interferes with the normal mucous secretion in the Marijuana 
smokers' respiratory tracts and predisposes them to mycoses.

Two forms of Aspergillosis are commonly seen in humans. The first is an 
acute generalized form characterized by the fungus in the lower respiratory 
tree as well as in the intestinal tract and other organs and liver. Patients 
with this form of Aspergillosis exhibit labored respiration, severe 
depression and extreme emaciation, and are generally very ill. 
Unfortunately, the mortality rate is exceptionally high in this form. The 
second form is called a chronic localized form. This is the most common type 
of infection seen in humans. This chronic Aspergillosis tends to develop 
localized aspergellomas (pockets of fungal infection). The location will 
determine the clinical signs. A common place for aspergellomas to localize 
in humans is in the sinus cavity, characterized by intermittent mucoid 
exudation.

Diagnosis of Aspergillosis can be difficult, at best, other than by autopsy. 
Tentative diagnosis can be made with clinical signs as well as the absence 
of bacterial infection in moist exudates. A blood test showing an elevation 
in white blood cell count, mild anemia and an elevation in the monocytes 
also supports this diagnosis. X-rays should be taken on any suspect 
patient-many times the radiograph will reveal densities or nodules 
consistent with aspergellomas. Additionally, your doctor should take samples 
and attempt to culture the fungus in specially prepared culture media. Blood 
should also be submitted for serologic evaluation.

If you are diagnosed as having Aspergillosis, appropriate treatment should 
be instituted by a qualified fungal unitaterian Doctor. Each treatment 
protocol has to be tailored to the individual. A prerequisite for success is 
removing the concurrent immunosuppression that exists. This can be 
accomplished by management, by treating concurrent maladies and by the 
judicious use of immunostimulants. Aggressive antifungal treatment is in 
order, either localized or systemic. Surgery may be necessary with certain 
localized Aspergellomas, while aggressive nebulization and sinus flushings 
are warranted in certain other cases. Additionally, a long-term treatment 
schedule should be instituted.

Since they do not have chlorophyll, fungi must absorb food from others. 
Since they don't use light to make food, fungi can live in damp and dark 
places. Fungi are supposed to "eat" things when they are dead but sometimes 
they start eating when the organism is still alive. That is when mycologists 
come in to figure out what to give to the infected patient or plant to get 
rid of the fungus.

Bad fungus is just good fungus trying to do its job way too early to an 
organism. Most commonly, fungi cause something to happen on the skin of 
animals or people. This is sometimes called Ringworm, but there is no worm 
involved! Ringworm can also be called Tinea or Dermatomycosis. Ringworm can 
be found all over the world [1282]. It mostly forms on the foot and scalp. 
Some Ringworm is Anthropophilic. Anthropophilic means human (anthro- think 
of anthropology) loving (-philic), and you catch this fungus from other 
people. Ringworm can also be Zoophilic or Geophilic. Zoophilic means animal 
(zoo- just think of going to a real zoo) loving, and this is a fungus you 
may catch from your pet. Geophilic means earth (geo- as in geology, or the 
earth) loving, of course you get this one from the soil.

Ringworm is the kind of fungus that gets on the body, but some fungus just 
irritates the body. Fungus irritates the nose and causes allergies. Over 37 
million people have allergies and many of them are caused by fungus. 
Buildings can also get sick. Buildings can get some fungi known as 
Penicillium and Stachybotrys. They float in the air and can cause watery 
eyes and breathing problems.

We also have smut fungi. These fungi live in the soil and are plant 
parasites. The name "smut" refers to the ripe galls filled with dark sooty 
spores that are formed when the fungus infests a plant. The most well-known 
smut fungus is the corn smut, Ustilago maydis. Among others are Microbotryum 
violaceum (formerly known as Ustilago violacea) that infects Caryophyllaceae 
including Silene species, and Tilletia caries that infects wheat.



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