Which fungal organism is known to cause vertebrobasilar strokes by invading vessel walls?

Aspergillus is a type of mold that can lead to serious health issues, especially in immunocompromised individuals. When it comes to its role in causing vertebrobasilar strokes, Aspergillus can invade blood vessel walls, leading to a condition known as "fungal vasculitis." This occurs when the organism infects the endothelial layer of the blood vessels, particularly in the setting of underlying immunosuppression or other risk factors.

The specific relationship between Aspergillus and vascular complications is well-documented in clinical literature. The invasion of the fungus can result in thrombosis and subsequent ischemic strokes due to compromised blood flow to specific brain regions supplied by the affected vessels, including the vertebrobasilar system.

In contrast, other fungal organisms listed, such as Histoplasma, Candida albicans, and Pseudallescheria boydii, while they can cause significant infections and complications in certain contexts, are not primarily known for invading vessel walls to cause strokes in the same manner as Aspergillus. Histoplasma can cause disseminated disease but is more associated with pulmonary and systemic manifestations. Candida is primarily implicated in candidemia and other infections rather than direct vascular invasion leading to stroke. Pseudallescheria