Absidia sp. |
Health Effects: May cause mucorosis in
immune comprised individuals. The sites of infections are the lung, nasal
sinus passages, brain, eyes, and skin. Infection may have several sites.
Characteristics: A zygomycete fungus.
Allergen: Reported to be allergenic.
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Acremonium sp. |
Health Effects:It was the primary fungus
identified in at least two houses where the occupant complained of nausea,
vomiting, and diarrhea. Can produce mycetomas, infections of the cornea and
nails.
Characteristics: Asexual state of
Emericellopsis sp., Chaetomuim sp., and Nectripsis sp.
Allergen: Reported to be
allergenic.
Potential Toxin Production: Can
produce a trichothecene toxin which is toxic if ingested.
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Alternaria sp. |
Health Effects: Has been associated with
hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Common cause of extrinsic asthma
(immediate-type hypersensitivity: type I). May be related to bakers asthma.
Acute symptoms include edema and bronchiospasms, chronic cases may develop
pulmonary emphysema.
Allergen: Very common allergen with an
IgE mediated reponse.
Growth Indoors: Often found in
carpets, textiles, and on horizontal surfaces (often on window frames).
Outdoor Location: Found in soil, seed,
and plants. Common in outdoor samples.
Potential Toxin Production:
Alternaria alternata is capable of producing tenuazonic acid and other
toxic metabolites which may be associated with disease in humans or animals.
Spore Size: Conidia dimensions 18-83 x
7-18. Large spore size 20-200 x 7-18 suggest theat the spores from this
fungi will be deposited in the nose, mouth, and upper respiratory tract.
Water Activity: 0.89
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Aspergillus clavatus |
Outdoor Location: Found in soils and
animal manure.
Potential Opportunist or Pathogen:
This species is only occasionally pathogenic.
Potential Toxin Production: Can
produce petulin which may be associated with disease in humans and other
animals.
Spore Size: Conidia dimensions 3-4.5 x
2.5-4.5 microns.
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Aspergillus flavus |
Health Effects: This fungus is associated
with aspergillosis of the lungs and/or disseminated aspergillosis. It is
occasionally identified as the cause of corneal, otomycotic, and nasoorbital
infections.
Allergen: It is reported to be
allergenic.
Growth Indoors: Grows on moldy corn
and peanuts, and found in water damaged carpets.
Outdoor Location: Found in warm soil,
foods, and dairy products.
Potential Toxin Production: Some
strains are capable of producing a group of mycotoxins in the aflatoxin
group. Aflatoxins are known animal carcinogens. There is limited evidence to
sugest that this toxin is a human carcinogen. The toxin is poisonous to
humans by ingestion. It may also result in occupational disease via
inhalation. Experiments have indicated that it is teratogenic and mutagenic.
It is toxic to the liver. The production of the fungal toxin in dependent on
the growth conditions and the substrate used as a food source.
Spore Size: Conidia dimensions 3-6
microns or 3-5 microns.
Water Activity: 0.78.
|
Aspergillus fumigatus |
Health Effects: Major cause of
aspergillosis. Both invasive and allergic aspergillosis are caused by this
organism. Aspergillosis affects individuals who are immune compromised.
Growth Media: Grows well at 35° C.
Outdoor Location: Commonly found in
compost piles with temperatures higher than 40° C, in mild to warm soils,
and on cereals.
Spore Size: Conidia dimensions 2-3.5
microns.
Water Activity: 0.82; Optimum >0.97.
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Aspergillus nidulans |
Health Effects: Associated with
aspergillosis of the lungs and/or diseminated aspergillosis.
Growth Media: Found in mild to warm
soils and on slowly decaying plants.
Potential Opportunist or Pathogen:
This species is only occasionally pathogenic.
Potential Toxin Production: Can
produce the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin. This toxin has been shown to produce
liver and kidney damage in lab animals.
Spore Size: Conidia dimensions 2-4
microns.
Water Activity: 0.78.
|
Aspergillus niger |
Health Effects: Less common cause of
aspergillosis. Reported to cause skin and pulmonary infections, common cause
of fungal realted ear infections-otomycosis.
Growth Indoors: Commonly found on
textiles, in soils, grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Spore Size: Conidia dimensions 3.5-5
microns or 4-5 microns.
Water Activity: 0.77; Optimum >0.97.
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Aspergillus ochraceus |
Growth Media: Found in grains, soil, and
salted food. It is not usually associated with decaying vegetation.
Potential Toxin Production: Can
produce a kidney toxin ochratoxin A which may produce ochratoxicosis in
humans. This is also known as Balkan nephropathy. The toxin is produced at
optimum growth conditions at 25° C and high moisture conditions. The
ochratoxin may also be produced by other Aspergillus sp. and
Penicillium sp. Other toxins which can be produced by this fungus
include penicillic acid, xanthomegnin, and viomellein. These are all
reported to be kidney and liver toxins.
Spore Size: Conidia dimensions 25-3
microns.
Water Activity: 0.77.
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Aspergillus terreus |
Health Effects: This fungus is associated
with aspergillosis of the lungs and or disseminated aspergillosis. Found as
an isolate from otomycosis - ear infection and onychomycosis - infection of
finger or toe nails.
Growth Media: Found in warmer soil and
in grains, straw, cotton, and decomposing vegetation.
Potential Toxin Production: Can
produce the toxin patulin and citrinin which may be associated with disease
in humans and other animals.
Spore Size: Conidia dimensions 1.8 -
2.4 microns or 2 - 2.5 microns. Aleurospores 6-7 microns are also produced.
Water Activity: 0.78.
|
Bipolaris sp. |
Characteristics: A fungus with large
spores which would be expected to be deposited in the upper respiratory
tract.
Potential Toxin Production: This fungus
can produce the mycotoxin - sterigmatocystin which has been shown to produce
liver and kidney damage when ingested by laboratory animals.
|
Botrytis sp. |
Health Effects: Possibly associated with
allergy symptoms (skin tests).
Allergen: Reported to be allergenic.
Growth Indoors: Parasitic on plants
and soft fruits. Found in soil and vegetables.
Spore Size: Conidia kimensions 7-14 x
5-9 micros.
|
Chaetomium sp. |
Characteristics: Large ascomycetous
fungus producing perithecia.
Allergen: Reported to be allergenic.
Growth Media: Found on a variety of
substrates containing cellulose including paper and plant compost. Can
produce an Acremonium-like state on fungal media.
|
Cladosporium sphaerospermum |
Growth Media: Found as a secondary
invader of plants, food, soil, paint, and textiles.
Spore Size: Conidia dimensions 3-4.5
microns.
|
Conidobolus sp. |
Health Effects: Can cause a chronic
inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa (ntomophthoromycosis).
|
Curvularia sp. |
Health Effects: May cause corneal
infections, mycetoma, and infection in immune compromised hosts.
Allergen: Reported to be allergenic.
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Epicoccum sp. |
Allergen: A common allergen.
Growth Media: Found in plants, soil,
grains, textiles, and paper products.
Spore Size: Conidia dimensions 15-25
microns.
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Fusarium sp. |
Health Effects: Symptoms may occur either
through ingestion of contaminated grains or possibly inhalation of spores.
The genera can produce hemorrhagic syndrome in humans (alimentary toxic
aleukia). This is characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis,
and extensive internal bleeding. Frequently involved in eye, skin, and nail
infections.
Allergen: Reported to be allergenic.
Growth Media: Common soil fungus. It
is found on a wide range of plants. It is often found in humidifiers.
Potential Toxin Production: Serveral
species in this genus can produce potent trichothecence toxins. The
trichothecene (scirpene) toxin targets, the following systems: circulatory,
alimentary, skin, and nervous. Produces toxin on grains during unusually
damp growing conditions.
Water Activity: 0.90.
|
Fusarium solani |
Growth Media: Found in plants and soils.
Potential Toxin Production: Can
produce trichothecene toxins which may be associated with disease in humans
and animals.
Spore Size: Macroconidia dimensions 27-52 x
4.4-6.8; Microcondia dimensions 8-16 x 2-4 microns.
Water Activity: 0.90.
|
Gliocladium sp. |
Characteristics: A fungus which is
structurally similar to Penicillium sp.
Allergen: It is reported to be
allergenic.
|
Mucor sp. |
Health Effects: May cause mucorosis in
immune compromised individuals. The sites of infection are the lung, nasal
sinus passages, brain, eyes, and skin. Infection may have multiple sites.
Allergen: A Zygomycetes fungus which
may be allergenic (skin and bronchial tests.
Growth Media: Often found in soil,
dead plant material, horse dung, fruits, and fruit juice. It is also found
in leather, meat, dairy products, animal hair, and jute. This organism and
other Zygomycetes will grow rapidly on most fungal media.
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Paecilomyces sp. |
Health Effects: P. variotii can
cause paecilomycosis. Linked to ood-trimmers disease and humidifier
associated illnesses. Some members of this genus are reported to cause
pneumoniua.
Characteristics: It may produce arsine
gas if growing on arsenic substrate. this can occur on wallpapers govered
with paris green.
Allergen: Reported to be allergenic.
Growth Media: Commonly found in soil
and dust, less frequently in air.
|
Phoma sp. |
Health Effects: It may cause
phaeohyphomycosis, a systematic or subcutaneous disease.
Characteristics: Similar to the early
stages of growth of
Chaetomium sp. Produces pink and purple
spots on painted walls.
Allergen: A common indoor air
allergen.
Growth Media: The species are isolated
from soil and associated plants (particularly potatoes). It will grow on
butter, paint, cement, and rubber.
Potential Toxin Production: It may
have antigens which cross react with those of
Alternaria sp.
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Rhizopus sp. |
Health Effects: May cause mucorosis in
immune compromised idividuals. The sites of infection are the lung, nasal
sinus passages, brain, eyes, and skin. Infection may have multiple sites.
Characteristics: Occupies a biolobical
niche similar to
Mucor sp.
Allergen: The Zygomycetous fungus is reported
to be allergenic. It is often linked to occupational allergy.
|
Rhodotorula sp. |
Characteristics: A reddish yeast
typically found in moist environments such as carpeting, cooling coils and
drain pans. In some countries it is the most common yeast genus identified
in indoor air.
Allergen: This yeast has been reported
to be allergenic.
Growth Media: It has colonized in
terminally ill patients.
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Scopulariopsis sp. |
Characteristics: It may produce arsine
gas if growing on arsenic substrate. This can occur on wallpapers covered
with paris green.
Allergen: Associated with type III
allergy.
Growth Media: It has been found
growing on a wide variety of materials including house dust.
|
Stachybotrys |
Health Effects: Individuals with chronic
exposure to the toxin produced by this fungus reported cold and flu sysptoms,
sore troats, diarrhea, headaches, fatigue, dermatitis, intermittent local
hair loss, and generalized malaise. The toxins produced by this fungus will
suppress the immune system affecting the lymphoid tissue and the bone
marrow. Animals injected with the toxin from this fungus exhibited the
following symptoms: necrosis and hemorrhage within the brain, thymus,
spleen, intestine, lung, heart, lymph node, liver, and kidney. Affects by
absorption of the toxin in the human lung are known as pneumomycosis.
Characteristics: It is usually
difficult to find in indoor samples unless it is physically disturbed or if
there is (speculation - a drop in the relative humidity). The spores are in
a gelatinous mass. The spores die readily after release. The dead spores are
still allergenic and toxigenic. Percutaneous absorption has caused mild
symptoms.
Growth Media: This is a slow-growing
fungus on media. It does not compete well with other rapidly growing fungi.
The dark-colored fungi grows on building material with a high cellulose
content and a low nitrogen content. Areas with relative humidities above 55%
and are subject to temperature fluctuations are ideal for toxin production
(29). Appropriate media for the growth of
this organism will have a high cellulose content and a low nitrogen content.
Outdoor Location: This organism is
rarely found in outdoor samples.
Potential Toxin Production: Serveral
strains of this fungus (S. atra, S. chartarum and S. alternans
are synonymous) may produce a trichothecene mycotoxin - Satratoxin H - which
is poisonous by inhalation. The toxins are present on the fungal spores.
Water Activity: 0.94, optimum ->0.98.
|
Syncephalastrum sp. |
Health Effects: Can cause a respiratory
infection characterized by a solid intracaitary fungal ball.
|
Trichoderma sp. |
Characteristics: Readily degrades
cellulose.
Allergen: It has been reported to be
allergenic.
Growth Media: It will often grow on
other fungi. Commonly found in soil, dead trees, pine needles, paper, and
unglazed ceramics.
Potential Toxin Production: It
produces antibiotics which are toxic to humans.
|
Trichothecium sp. |
Allergen: Reported to be allergenic.
Growth Media: Found in decomposing
vegetation, soil, corn seeds, and flour.
Potential Toxin Production: The
species Trichothecium roseum can produce a trichothecene toxin which
may be associated with disease in humans and other animals.
Spore Size: Conidia dimensions 12-23 x
8-10 microns.
Water Activity: 0.90.
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Ulocladium sp. |
Growth Media: Isolated from dead plants
and cellulose materials.
Water Activity: 0.89.
|
Wallemia sp. |
Growth Media: Found in sugary foods,
salted meats, dairy products, textiles, soil, hay, and fruits.
Spore Size: Conidia dimensions 2.5-3.5
microns.
Water Activity: 0.75.
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