Entomophthoramycosis is a mycosis

Mycosis

A mycosis is a fungal infection of animals, including humans. Mycoses are common, and a variety of environmental and physiological conditions can contribute to the development of fungal diseases...

 caused by Entomophthorales

Entomophthorales

The Entomophthorales are an order of fungi that were previously classified in the class Zygomycetes. A new subphylum, Entomophthoromycotina, has recently been described for them.Most species of the Entomophthorales are pathogens of insects...

.

Examples include basidiobolomycosis

Basidiobolomycosis

Basidiobolomycosis is a fungal disease.It is caused by Basidiobolus ranarum.Treatment with itraconazole has been described....

 and conidiobolomycosis

Conidiobolomycosis

Conidiobolomycosis is a fungal disease.It is caused by Conidiobolus coronatus or Conidiobolus incongruus....

.

Treatment

Treatment for phycomycosis is very difficult and includes surgery when possible. Postoperative recurrence is common. Antifungal drugs show only limited effect on the disease, but itraconazole

Itraconazole

Itraconazole , invented in 1984, is a triazole antifungal agent that is prescribed to patients with fungal infections. The drug may be given orally or intravenously.-Medical uses:...

 and terbinafine hydrochloride

Terbinafine

Terbinafine hydrochloride is a...

 are often used for two to three months following surgery. Humans with Basidiobolus infections have been treated with amphotericin B

Amphotericin B

Amphotericin B is a polyene antifungal drug, often used intravenously for systemic fungal infections...

 and potassium iodide

Potassium iodide

Potassium iodide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula KI. This white salt is the most commercially significant iodide compound, with approximately 37,000 tons produced in 1985. It is less hygroscopic than sodium iodide, making it easier to work with...

. For pythiosis and lagenidiosis, a new drug targeting water moulds called caspofungin

Caspofungin

Caspofungin is an antifungal drug, the first of a new class termed the echinocandins from Merck & Co., Inc. It shows activity against infections with Aspergillus and Candida, and works by inhibiting the enzyme β-D-Glucan synthase and thereby disturbing the integrity of the fungal cell wall...

 is available, but it is very expensive. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a medical term defined as the "treatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response". Immunotherapies designed to elicit or amplify an immune response are classified as activation immunotherapies. While immunotherapies that reduce or suppress are...

has been used successfully in humans and horses with pythiosis. Treatment for skin lesions is traditionally with potassium iodide, but itraconazole has also been used successfully.