Pathogenic Fungi - Neglected Infectious Agents? A Commentary on the Gambian Situation

World Health Organisation (WHO) defines infectious diseases as diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi; the diseases can be spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another [1]. Bacteria, parasites and viruses are more incriminated by health care providers for infectious diseases; fungi are often not investigated except in some cases of superficial and urogenital tract fungal infections. In 2001, a review of the scientific literature identified 1415 species of infectious organisms known to be pathogenic to humans, including 217 viruses and prions, 538 bacteria and rickettsia, 307 fungi, 66 protozoa and 287 helminthes and also showed that among the emerging pathogens, 9% are fungi [2]. The same study showed that Emerging Pathogens are those that have appeared in a human population for the first time, or have occurred previously but are increasing in incidence or expanding into areas where they have not previously been reported, usually over the last 20 years [3].