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What are the main human diseases caused by fungi?

The main human diseases caused by fungi in immunocompetent patients are coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, or South American blastomycosis, sporotrichosis and onychomycosis (nail mycosis). In immunodeficient patients besides the diseases mentioned above other fungal diseases like systemic candidiasis, aspergillosis, cryptococcosis and other opportunistic diseases can occur.

Moniliasis is one of the most common opportunistic diseases in AIDS. What is the etiologic agent of moniliasis and what is the other name of the disease? Why is monilia also common in healthy newborns?

The etiologic agent of moniliasis is Candida albicans, a fungus. Moniliasis is also known as mucocutaneous candidiasis. In AIDS moniliasis can complicate and turn into systemic candidiasis, affecting many organs.

Newborns do not still have their immune system working with complete efficiency and thus they are more susceptible to candidiasis that generally appears in mouth and in the genital mucosae and disappears naturally.

What are some fungal diseases transmitted by animal feces?

Bat and pigeon feces can carry Histoplasma capsulatum, the fungus agent of histoplasmosis. The infection is transmitted through inhalation of contaminated dust in places visited by these animals (caves, tunnels, squares, roofs, etc.). Cryptococcosis is another fungal disease transmitted by pigeon excrements.