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Mold terms C - M Basidiospore (Buh-cyd-ee-oh-spore) are a general category of sexual spores that have been released from the basidium of a fungus. A ubiquitous type I & III allergen, saprobe and plant pathogen, mainly found in gardens, forests, and woodlands. Spores disseminate during rain or in times of high humidity. Rarely opportunistic pathogens, Basidiospores may produce toxins, including amanitins, monomethyl-hydrazine, muscarine, ibotenic acid, and psilocybin. Basidiospores are an agent of dry wood rot, which may destroy the structure wood of buildings. Basipetospora (Base-uh-pet-oh-spora) is the anamorphic state of the genus Monascus. It is a widespread saprobe found on substrates with high water tension, such as dried foods. Monascus is a yeast known as the “red yeast rice”. It contains Mavinolins, which includes Monacolin-K, this is found on M. ruber or B. ruber. This species contains the highest natural Monacolin-K, therefore known as Ruby Monascus. (Aw - 0.75 - 0.78) Culture – Potato dextrose agar or Malt extract agar, 20° - 25°C, 7 – 10 days Beauveria sp. (Boh-ver-ee-ah) is a type I allergen and saprobe reported as mainly an aggressive parasite of insects (may attack at larval or adult stages), and was first recognized as the agent of muscardine disease of the silkworm. B. bassiana is the best known member of this genus and is under research for biocontrol of insects. It is also a rare human pathogen, associated with keratitis and pneumonia in the immunocompromised. B. alba commonly occurs in indoor environments and appears to be less strongly associated with insects. Beauveria is commonly found in plant debris, soils, dung, and foods. Mycelium is white or slightly colored with a white fluffy to powdery appearance; conidiophores are single or irregularly grouped; conidia are hyaline, rounded to ovoid, 1-celled, dry and borne along a thin filament. The conidia are produced on short spikes or denticles, giving the conidiogenous cells a spiny appearance. Culture – Potato dextrose agar or Malt extract agar, 20° - 25°C, 7 – 10 days. Beltrania (Bell-tran-ee-ah) is a mitosporic fungus that is very widespread and commonly found in dead leaves and plant debris in subtropical to tropical areas. It is known as an ascomycete, which is one of the major classes of fungal organisms. This class contains the "sac fungi" and the yeasts. Many are reported to be allergenic. Note: see Ascospore. Culture – Potato dextrose agar or Malt extract agar, 20° - 25°C, 7 – 10 days. Bipolaris sp. (By-pole-air’-us) is a plant parasite mostly on subtropical and tropical plants, particularly to Graminae. Some species are pathogenic to grasses and animals such as the dog, and may cause nasal mycotic granuloma in cattle. This fungus can grow in semi-dry environments. Bipolaris is commonly found in dead or dying plant debris, soils, and grasses. It has been reported to produce the mycotoxin, sterigmatocystin that has been shown to cause liver and kidney damage when ingested by laboratory animals. This fungus is associated with phaeohyphomycosis, a disease consisting of a group of mycotic infections characterized by the presence of demataceous septate hyphae. Infections of the eyes and skin by black fungi could also be classified as phaeohyphomycosis. This fungus causes allergic fungal sinusitis, characterized by the presence of Bipolaris in the sinuses. In certain people with severe allergies, the large spores of this fungus can travel to the sinuses or upper respiratory tract, where they attach to the mucus and grow; producing an unrelenting allergic reaction that progressively and permanently damages the sinuses. Morphological characteristics of this genus are the production of brown conidia that are multi-celled, elliptical, straight or curved. Culture – Potato dextrose agar or Malt extract agar, 20 - 25°C, 7 – 10 days. Bispora (By-spore-uh) is a widespread mitosporic fungus. It has been isolated from dead wood in temperate areas in the northern hemisphere. Culture – Potato dextrose agar or Malt extract agar, 20 - 25°C, 7 – 10 days. Blastomyces (Blast-oh-mice-ees) is a thermally dimorphic fungus, and is rarely isolated from the environment but has been found in acidic, organic soil around waterways and beaver dams. The species B. dermatitidis can cause blastomycosis (Chicago disease, Gilchrist’s disease, North American Blastomycosis). Blastomycosis is generally acquired by inhalation and initially presents with a respiratory infection, which may spread and cause disease to other organs and systems such as the central nervous system (CNS), eyes, skin, sinuses, tongue, reproductive tract, gastrointestinal tract, liver, spleen, and bones. This is a very serious disease that can be fatal, and a compromised immune system is the primary risk factor. This disease is most prevalent in males’ ages 40-60 years and in children. Blastomycosis can also infect dogs, which are infected by inhaling the infectious particles. There is no evidence of animal to human transmission. B. dermatitidis is found predominantly in the Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Mississippi river valleys. When grown at 25°C, Blastomyces is a filamentous fungus, and when grown at 37°C it has a yeast-like form. Culture – Potato dextrose agar or Sabouraud glucose agar, 20 - 25°C, 7 – 10 days. Blastoschizomyces (Blast-oh-skiz-oh-mice-ees) has a single species, B. capitatus, which is a yeast commonly found in soils, beach sand, poultry feces, and wood pulp. As well as being a saprobe to the environment, it is found in the normal microbial flora of human skin, and digestive and respiratory tracts. An opportunistic fungi that is potentially pathogenic in cases of human immuno- supression. Disseminated infections of the lungs, kidneys, liver, spleen, and brain may occur and are likely in neutropenic patients with leukemia or those undergoing bone marrow transplantation. Development of endocarditis, osteomyelitis, meningitis, encephalitis, urinary tract infection, mycetoma, and pneumothorax may result. Colonies grow rapidly and mature in about 5 days; the colony is yeast-like and becomes mold-like with age. B. capitatus may be wrongly identified as Trichosporon, Geotrichum candidum, or Candida krusei; but because of its ability to grow at 45°C, its resistance to cycloheximide and biochemical characteristics helps to accurately identify the species. Culture – Potato dextrose agar or Malt extract agar, 20° - 25°C, 7 – 10 days. Botryoderma (Boh-try-oh-derm-uh) is a mitosporic hyphomycete fungus, which has been isolated from roots of fumigated and nonfumigated Douglas-fir stumps in Oregon. It has also been seen in South Africa and Brazil. Culture – Potato dextrose agar or Malt extract agar, 20° - 25°C, 7 – 10 days. Botryosporium (Boh-try-oh-spore-ee-um) is a plant pathogen and resembles gray mold, and can often be found on greenhouse tomatoes, and has also been found in hydrilla and/or soil. Botryosporium has been detected in moldy buildings along with Acremonium, Oedocephalum, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, and Stachybotrys. A laboratory study shows hygrosporic growth in the human respiratory system. Culture – Potato dextrose agar or Malt extract agar, 20° - 25°C, 7 – 10 days. Botryotrichum (Boh-try-oh-trick-um) forms dense white colonies, and have been found in raw compost, plaster, wallpaper, and cellophane in sand. Some species have been found to be parasitic on nematode eggs. Culture – Potato dextrose agar or Malt extract agar, 20° - 25°C, 7 – 10 days. Botrytis sp.(Boh-try-tis) is a Type I & III allergen, not a known toxin producer or opportunistic pathogen. Mostly reported to be found in tropical and temperate areas. This fungus is a parasite of plants, soft fruits and vegetables. The cause of leaf/root rot on fruits and vegetables such as, strawberries and onions. It is also known as "gray mold" or “noble rot” on wine grapes. Botrytis is known to cause allergies and induce asthma attacks, and is also a rare agent of keratomycosis. In some types of agricultural settings, such as greenhouses, the concentration of aerosolized spores may be greatly enhanced. Botrytis is also used in some types of wine production. Conidia are hyaline or gray in mass, 1-celled, ovoid, and 7-14 x 5-9 microns in size. (Aw – 0.93-0.95) Culture – Potato dextrose agar or Malt extract agar, 20° - 25°C, 7 – 10 days. Byssochlamys (By-so-clam-ys) is a widespread ascomycete fungus, and is also the anamorph of Paecilomyces. Byssochlamys is commonly found in soil, dust, canned or bottled fruit, barley grain, silage, and wood in temperate areas. This is an extremely thermo- tolerant (heat-resistant) fungus, and may cause spoilage in acidic foods, such as fruits. The optimal growth for this fungus is 30°-37° C, but may grow up to 98° – 100°C. Byssochlamys may also produce the mycotoxins, patulin and mannitol. The teleomorph form, Paecilomyces is the most commonly found in viable cultures, and also has ascospores that can survive in temperatures up to 80°C. (Aw - 0.84 - 0.92). Culture – Potato dextrose agar or Malt extract agar, 20° - 25°C, 7 – 10 days. Chaetomium sp. is found on a variety of substrates containing cellulose including paper and plant compost. Several species have been reported to play a major role in decomposition of cellulose-made materials. These fungi are able to dissolve the cellulose fibers in cotton and paper and thus cause the materials to disintegrate. The process is especially rapid under moist conditions. During the Second World War countries lost a great deal of equipment to these species. It is reported to be allergenic, although recent research has indicted that it may be more toxic then Stachybotrus. It is an ascomycete, in most species, the spores are lemon-shaped, with a single germ pore. The spore column results from the breakdown of the asci within the body of the perithecium. The perithecia of Chaetomium are superficial and barrel-shaped, and they are clothed with dark, stiff hairs. It can produce an Acremonium-like state (imperfect stage) on fungal media. Cultivation - Potato dextrose agar, 24° to 26°C. Chrysosporium sp. - This fungus is a saprophyte and is commonly found in soil, dung, plant debris, and seeds. Conidiophores poorly differentiated, mostly erect and branching irregularly, hyaline. Conidia are 1-celled, globose to pyriform, single or in short chains, and usually with a broad basal scar. Cultivation - Malt extract agar, 24° to 26°C. Cladosporium sp. - (Aw – 0.84 – 0.88). C. herbarum is the most frequently found species in outdoor air in temperate climates. It is often found indoors, usually in lesser numbers than outdoors. The dry conidia become easily airborne and are transported over long distances. This fungus is often encountered in dirty refrigerators, especially in reservoirs where condensation is collected. On moist window frames, it can easily be seen covering the whole painted area with a velvety olive-green layer. Cladosporium often discolors interior paint, paper, or textiles stored under humid conditions. Houses with poor ventilation, houses with thatched straw roofs and houses situated in low damp environments may have heavy concentrations of Cladosporium, which will be easily expressed when domestic mold is analyzed. It is commonly found on the surface of fiberglass duct liner in the interior of supply ducts. It is also found on dead plants, woody plants, food, straw, soil, paint, and textiles. The ability to sporulate heavily, ease of dispersal, and buoyant spores makes this fungus the most important fungal airway allergen; and together with Alternaria, it commonly causes asthma and hay fever in the Western hemisphere. A few species of this genus cause disease, which range from phaeohyphomycosis, a group of mycotic infections characterized by the presence of demataceous septate hyphae. Infections of the eyes and skin by black fungi (also classified as phaeohyphomycosis), and chromoblastomycosis, chronic localized infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that follows the traumatic implantation of the etiologic agent are also caused by this fungus. Chromoblastomycosis lesions are verrucoid, ulcerated, and crusted. Skin abscesses, mycotic keratitis and pulmonary fungus ball have been recorded in immuno- compromised patients. It may also cause corneal infections and mycetoma, characterized by localized infections that involve cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue, fascia, and bone consisting of abscesses, granulomata, and draining sinuses, usually in immuno-compromised hosts. Fungal colonies are powdery or velvety olive-green to olive-brown. Other characteristics include dark conidia 1- or 2-celled, variable in shape and size, ovoid to cylindrical and irregular, typically lemon-shaped. Cultivation - Potato dextrose agar, 24°C. Cunninghamella sp. Commonly found as saprophyte in soil. Can cause disseminated and pulmonary infections in immune compromised hosts. It is a zygomycete with zygospores being of the Mucor type. Asexually it produces extensive white mycelium, nonseptate, conidiophores (sporangiosphores) simple or branched, with enlarged tips bearing heads of conidia; conidia are colorless, 1-celled, globose, conidia may be spiny or smooth. Cultivation - Potato dextrose agar, 24°C. Curvularia sp. - Reported to be allergenic. It may cause corneal infections, mycetoma and infections in immune compromised hosts. This fungus can be parasitic or saprophytic. Conidiophores brown, mostly simple, bearing conidia apically; dark conidia, end cells lighter, 3- to 5-celled, more or less fusiform, typically bent, with one of the central cells enlarged. Cultivation - Potato dextrose agar, 24°C. Epicoccum sp. - It is commonly found as a secondary invader in plants, soil, grains, textiles and paper products where Cladosporium and Aureobasidium are present. It is mostly saprophytic, or weakly parasitic. Epicoccum is frequently isolated from air and occasionally occurs in house dust. Reported to be an allergen but not in a high frequency. Due to the ability of this fungus to grow at 37°C, it can cause infection of skin in humans. Morphological characteristics are production of dark conidia, several-celled (15- celled), globose, verrucose, 15-25 microns in diameter, and in a fruiting body (sporodochium). Cultivation - Potato dextrose agar, 24° C. Fusarium sp.- (Aw 0.90). Commonly found in soil, plants, grains, and often times it is found in humidifiers. This fungus is the most common cause of mycotic keratitis. This mold has been isolated from skin lesions on burn patients, nail infections, ear infections, varicose ulcer, mycetoma , osteomyelitis following trauma, and disseminated infection. This fungus produces very harmful toxins, especially in storage of infected. crops. These toxins, known as trichothecene (scierpene) toxins target the circulatory, alimentary, skin, and nervous systems. Fusarium can also produce 1). Vomotoxin on grains which has been associated with outbreaks of acute gastrointestinal illness in humans. 2). T-2 Toxin and related trichothecenes are some of the deadliest known toxins. If ingested in sufficient quantity, T-2 toxin can severally damage the entire digestive tract and cause rapid death due to internal hemorrhage. 3). Fumosin, commonly found in corn and corn based products, with recently outbreaks of veterinary mycotoxicosis causing "crazy horse disease". 4). Zearalenone toxin which is similar in chemical structure to the female sex hormone estrogen and targets the reproductive organs. Morphological characteristics of this fungus include extensive cotton-like mycelium in culture, often with some tinge of pink, purple or yellow. Cultivation - Potato dextrose agar, 24°C. Geotrichum sp. This fungus is commonly found in dairy products and also in soils. This genus can sometimes be pathogenic to man. It is characterized by the formation of chains of colorless, slimy spores (conidia) through the fermentation of vegetative filaments. Some species of Geotrichum have strong odors. Gliocladium sp. This fungus occurs in soil or decaying plant matter as parasites of other fungi. Reported to be allergenic. Fungus that is structurally similar to Penicillium sp. but with conidia collecting in wet rather than dry masses. Cultivation - Potato dextrose agar, 24°C. Graphium sp. It is parasitic and commonly found as plant pathogen causing vascular diseases (wilts). Conidiophores are simple, colorless, produced in abundance, bearing oblong conidia that reproduce by budding. Mode of conidial development is variable in different species. Some species are imperfect stage of Ceratocystis. Cultivation - Potato dextrose agar, 24°C. Helminthosporium sp. Found as saprophytic or parasitic. Mycelium dark, often in substrate; conidiophores single or clustered, tall, erect, brown, simple; conidia develop laterally through pores beneath septa while conidiophore still growing, single, sub-hyaline to brown, obclavate. Cultivation - Potato dextrose agar, 24°C. Leptosphaerulina sp. Ascomycete found on leaves and herbaceous stems. Its asexual state is Pithomyces. Ascoma an ostiolate, immersed in host tissue, apez erupent at maturity. Asci few, bitunicate, thick-walled, 8-spored. Ascospores are colorless, variable in shape from oblong to ellipsoid or short cylindric, transverse and longitudinal septa, sometimes longitudinal septa lacking in some spores, with a thin gelatinous sheath, sometimes becoming brownish with age. Cultivation - Corn meal agar, 24°C. Memnoniella sp. Cellulolytic fungus very closely related to Stachybotrys. Both fungi have a worldwide distribution and often found together, and commonly found in soil. Recent studies on mycotoxins revealed that Memnoniella echinata can have toxicity similar to that of some isolates of S. chartarum. In terms of their chemical products, both S. chartarum and M echinata produce phenylspirodrimanes, but these two organisms differ in that the former produces macrocyclic and trichoverroid trichothecenes and the latter produces griseofulvins. Both produce varying amounts of simple trichothecenes. Thus, it is suggested that Memnoniella should also be considered potentially dangerous in indoor air. The conidiophores are dark, simple, bearing at apex a cluster of thick, short phialides; conidia of Memnoniella echinata are very similar to those of Stachybotrys, dark, 1-celled, globose. The major difference between the two fungi is that the conidia are in long persistent chains (aggregated in slimy heads in Stachybotrys). Also the aerodynamic diameter of Memnoniella is smaller and it would be expected to have an even greater potential to penetrate deep into lungs than the conidia of Stachybotrys. Cultivation - Corn meal agar, 24°C. Monilia sp. Its mycelium is white or gray, and abundant in culture. Conidiophore branched; conidia pink, gray, or tan in mass, 1- celled, short cylindric to rounded, in acropetalous chains. Cultivation - Potato dextrose agar, 24°C. |
| ALL molds reproduce by making "spores." Mold spores are microscopic and only become visible when individual spores accumulate. According to the United States EPA, these microscopic particles continuously move through indoor and outdoor air. When mold spores find moisture indoors, they may "begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive." Molds gradually destroy whatever they are growing on. |
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