Cladosporium is a mold widely distributed in air and in rotten organic material usually associated with plants, wood products, and leather goods. It is frequently isolated as a contaminant on foods. Specific Cladosporium were isolated from fish and associated with findings of infection. Cladosporium is encountered in both outdoor and indoor air and is frequently found in elevated levels in water-damaged environments. Some species may be resistant to certain types of treated lumber. Cladosporium appears gray to black or very dark green and can have a powdery appearance. The genus...
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Chaetomium is a fungal genus which contains around 80 known species of mold. These molds are among the group of molds which can cause health problems in humans as a result of prolonged exposure. These fungi like to live on cellulose, and are found on wood, compost, sheet rock, straw, and similar materials. The fungal colony can take as long as three weeks to mature in a cold environment, producing spores which spread the fungus via the wind. The colony starts out white, turning dark gray to olive when it...
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Blastomyces species cause Blastomycosis, a rare fungal infection usually acquired by inhaling the spores of Blastomyces. It is found in wood and soil after contaminated soil is disturbed by activities such as excavation, construction, digging, or wood clearing. It is not spread from person-to-person or from animal-to-person. Blastomycosis occurs most often in people that live in the central and southeastern United States, particularly in the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys and the Great Lakes states. The time between exposure and when symptoms develop varies widely, ranging from 21 to 100...
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Aspergillus is a fungus whose spores are present in the air we breathe. Aspergillus molds are found world-wide, especially in the autumn and winter in the Northern hemisphere. The genus includes over 150 species but only a few of these molds are thought to cause illness in humans and animals. The photo shows the mold growing inside a lung cavity. Most people are naturally immune and do not develop disease caused by Aspergillus. However, when disease does occur, it takes several forms. The type of diseases caused by Aspergillus are...
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The mold Alternaria is comprised of about 40-50 species. It is commonly found in plants, soil, food (that is alternaria mold rot in photo), and indoor air. It also grows on many materials if they remain damp, including textiles, stored food, canvas, cardboard, paper, electric cables, polyurethane, jet fuel, sewage and effluents. Airborne spores of Alternaria alternata and Alternaria tenuissima are found in very high numbers in the outdoor environment during summer. The presence of Alternaria together with other molds in an indoor environment is indicative of humid conditions. Alternaria...
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The genus Acremonium currently contains about 100 species, of which most are isolated from dead plant material and soil. Many species of Acremonium are recognized as opportunistic pathogens of man and animals, causing mycetoma (fungal growths endemic in Africa and India) and onychomycosis (nail fungus, or ringworm of the nail -- although most nail fungus is caused by Trichophyton). Clinical manifestations of hyalohyphomycosis (other mold related infections) caused by Acremonium include: arthritis, osteomyelitis, peritonitis, endocarditis, pneumonia, cerebritis and subcutaneous infection. A class of β-lactam antibiotics were originally derived from Acremonium....
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Absidia species are ubiquitous in most environments. They are often associated with warm decaying plant matter, like in compost piles. The best known species is the pathogenic Absidia corymbifera, which causes zygomycosis, especially in the form of mycotic spontaneous abortion in cows. Zygomycosis is the broadest term that refers to infections caused by bread mold fungi. However, because zygomycota has been identified as polyphyletic and is not included in modern fungal classification systems, the diseases that Zygomycosis cause are better referred to as the specific name mucormycosis. Absidia is an...
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While the term fungus or mold may conjure up thoughts like slimy, green, smelly and rotten, fungi serve a very important role on our planet. Fungi (molds) recycle garbage and help turn dead trees back into soil for us. Some fungi are even utilized in food. Yeasts are the main ingredients in bread, beer and cheeses (none of which are exactly health promoting). But fungi have also caused problems like athlete's foot, allergies, serious infections. They are also used to create some toxic antibiotics.All microorganisms are opportunistic, but fungi are...
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