Mucor contains an estimated 40 species. Members of the Mucor genus can be found living all over the world in a wide variety of environments, from the forest to the carpets of homes and businesses. In Northern Europe especially, Mucor species are ubiquitous indoors and can contribute to mold allergies in sensitive individuals. Some species cause diseases in humans, while others are known plant pathogens. Fungi in this genus grow in the form of a white to gray mold which develops into a fluffy mass. The mold can grow on...
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Microsporum ringworm, a fungus that causes a skin infection called ringworm, can pass from animals to people. It is characterized by skin lesions and small scaly patches that do not always form a circle, microsporum ringworm causes hair loss at the affected site. Ringworm mimics other skin infections, such as demodex, caused by a parasite. Seventeen species of Microsporum exist. Pathogenic dermatophytes are parasitic fungi that share the ability to invade keratinized (do not have circulation, technically dead) structures such as hair, nails, and stratum corneum, causing superficial infections called...
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Malassezia, otherwise known as Pityrosporum folliculitis (PF) is an inflammatory skin disorder that typically manifests as a pruritic (itching), follicular papulopustular eruption (pus filled blisters) distributed on the upper trunk of young to middle-aged adults. Yeasts, specifically Malassezia furfur, are the pathogenic agents in Pityrosporum folliculitis and have been linked to several skin diseases, including seborrheic dermatitis, folliculitis, pityriasis versicolor, and atopic dermatitis. Malassezia is part of the normal skin flora. In the U.S., Malassezia organisms can be found on the skin in 75-98% of healthy people, even higher numbers...
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Histoplasma causes Histoplasmosis, a disease usually affecting the lungs, but can infect other parts of the body as well. The photo shows skin lesions caused by fungus. Histoplasmosis is the most common endemic fungal infection diagnosed in the U.S. Histoplasmosis has also been named Ohio River Valley fever and bird-fancier's disease. And yet, about 90% of infections caused by Histoplasma produce no symptoms. Occasionally, a few asymptomatic patients will show small scars in lung X-rays. Symptomatic people often develop fever, chills, dry cough, malaise, sweats, and abdominal pains about three...
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Geotrichum is a widespread species in soil, water and air. It is also common in polluted water and sewage effluents, paper pulp and on textiles. It is widely found as a spoilage organism of bread, meat, fruit, fruit juices and other foodstuffs. In indoor environments, it has been isolated from carpet dust and damp walls. Geotrichum frequently causes pulmonary infection but has also been reported to cause bronchial, oral, vaginal, cutaneous and alimentary infections. It poses inhalation health risks and risks related to major barrier breaks (e.g., corneal perforation, major...
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Fusarium species exist as plant pathogens and are found on plant debris and in soil. Plant parasitic Fusarium causes wilting of many plants including crops such as tomatoes, bananas, sweet potatoes, pigeon peas, and pears. Some species of Fusarium are commonly isolated from seeds, especially those of cereals. Species of Fusarium also produce a number of different mycotoxins. The Fusarium species are probably the most prevalent toxin-producing fungi in the northern temperate regions and are commonly found on cereals grown in the temperate regions of America, Europe and Asia. These...
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Exophiala is a widespread fungus commonly found in soil and sewage. It causes mycetoma and opportunistic infections in humans. This organism is recognized with increasing frequency as a cause of human disease. Human infection caused by Exophiala can be separated into three types: superficial infections, cutaneous and subcutaneous disease, and visceral or systemic disease. Most cases of infection caused by Exophiala are included in the first two categories. Visceral or systemic disease is very rare. Cases of pneumonia, fungaemia, central nervous system infection, endocarditis and peritonitis have been reported. Systemic...
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Epidermophyton is a genus of fungus found worldwide that causes superficial and cutaneous infection. Human beings are the primary host of Epidermophyton and it is found in soil. This fungus can affect otherwise healthy people with dermatophytosis such as tinea corporis (ringworm), tinea cruris (jock itch), tinea pedis (athlete's foot), and onychomycosis or tinea unguium, a fungal infection of the nail bed. This infection is restricted to the nonliving cornified layers of epidermis. Keratinized tissues restrict the dissemination of infection caused by dermatophytes. As with all forms of dermatophytosis, Epidermophyton...
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Epicoccum is found worldwide. It is a very common invader of many different plant types, also infecting seeds from barley, oats, wheat, and corn. Moldy paper discoloration is frequently caused by Epicoccum and it produces the pigments carotene, torularhodin, and rhodoxanthin. Epicoccum is a "dry weather" spore more prevalent on dry, windy days, with counts higher in the late day. In California, counts were strongly associated with strawberry and artichoke harvests. Epicoccum causes upper and lower respiratory tract disease. Compared to other fungi, the degree of Epicoccum skin sensitization is...
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Cryptococcus is found worldwide in the soil, usually in bird droppings, especially pigeon droppings - and in soil contaminated with bird droppings. Humans can get cryptococcal infection by inhalation of airborne fungi which are spread from these sources. Cryptococcosis is not known to be spread from person to person, animal to animal, or from animals to humans. The most common species is Cryptococcus Neoformans. Infection may cause a pneumonia-like illness, with shortness of breath, coughing and fever. Skin lesions may also occur. Another common form of cryptococcosis is central nervous...
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Coccidioides fungus causes Valley fever (also called coccidioidomycosis), an infection that occurs when spores of the fungus enter your body through the lungs. Valley fever is most commonly seen in the desert regions of the southwestern United States, and in Central and South America. The infection is transmitted by breathing in fungal particles from soil and is not spread from person to person or from animals to people. The fungus changes its form when it infects a person, but this form cannot be transmitted from one person to another. Most...
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This fungus grows on rye and related plants, and produces alkaloids that can cause ergotism in humans and other mammals who consume grains contaminated with its fruiting structure. Claviceps include about 50 known species, mostly in the tropical regions. Economically significant species include: C. purpurea (parasitic on grasses and cereals), C. fusiformis (on pearl millet, buffel grass), C. paspali (on dallis grass), and C. africana (on sorghum). C. purpurea most commonly affect outcrossing species such as rye (its most common host), as well as triticale, wheat (shown in photo) and...
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