DESCRIPTIONS OF SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL MOLD SPECIES

Acremonium spp.

Where It Is Found: Acremonium spp. is naturally
found in soils, decaying organic matter, and plant
debris. It is also an agricultural contaminant. This
genus can be parasitic or saprophytic to plants and
other living fungi, and some species cause
vascular wilts in trees.

Physical Characteristics: The growth rate of
Acremonium colonies is moderately rapid, maturing
within 5 days. The texture of the colony is
compact, flat or folded, and occasionally raised in
the center. It is glabrous, velvety, and membrane-like at the beginning. Powdery
texture may also be observed. By aging, the surface of the colony may become
cottony due to the overgrowth of loose hyphae. The color of the colony is white,
pale grey or pale pink on the surface. The reverse side is either uncolored or a
pink to rose colored pigment production is observed. Physical characteristics of
Acremonium spp. are the production of conidiophores and long, slender phialide.
The conidia are hyaline, single-celled, and are collected in a slime drop.

Variations/Species: There are approximately 100 different species of
ossible Health Effects: Acremonium spp. has been known to produce a toxin
lternaria spp.
Acremonium spp. in existence today.

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from the trichothecene group and may also give off an unpleasant odor due to
the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This fungus is associated
with occupant complaints such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Acremonium
spp. has been isolated from cases of mycetoma, onychomycosis, mycotic
keratitis, infection of the cornea, and infections of artificial implants.

A

here It Is Found: Alternaria spp. grows on W
organic debris in soil and also parasitizes leaves,
flowers, fruits or vegetables, grains, and
ornamental plants. Outdoors, it may be isolated
from samples of soil, seeds and plants, and is
frequently reported in the air. Alternaria spp. has
been isolated from sewage, leather, stone
monuments, optical instruments, cosmetics,
computer disks, and jet fuel. It is commonly found
indoors in house dust, carpets, textiles, on
horizontal surfaces in building interiors, and
window frames. Alternaria spp. is found in great abundance during the summer
and early fall.

Physical Characteristics: Alternaria spp. grows rapidly. The colony is flat,
downy to woolly and is covered by grayish, short, aerial hyphae in time. The
surface is grayish white at the beginning which later darkens and becomes
greenish black or olive brown with a light border. The reverse side is typically
brown to black due to pigment production.

Variations/Species: There currently are 50 species of Alternaria in existence
today. Alternaria spp. is one of the most common fungi worldwide.

Possible Health Effects: Alternaria spp. spores can deposit in the nose, mouth
and upper respiratory tract causing nasal septum infections. Alternaria spp. has
also been associated with pneumonitis. Alternaria spp. is a common cause of
extrinsic asthma. Acute symptoms include edema and bronchiospasms; chronic
cases may develop pulmonary emphysema. Bakers asthma is associated with
inhalation of Alternaria spp. conidia present in flour. Other diseases caused by
Alternaria spp. include: Farmers lung, mycotic keratitis, skin infections, and
osteomyelitis. Also, the species A. alternata is capable of producing tenuazonic
acid and other toxic metabolites that may be associated with disease in humans
or animals.

Arthrinium spp.

Where It Is Found: Arthrinium is a widespread saprobe. It is
found on plants including sugarcane and especially swamp
grasses & sedges. This genus is often isolated from air near
grassy places in the autumn.

Physical Characteristics: Conidiophores are simple, mostly
hyaline except for thick dark septa. Conidia are dark, single-
celled, broadly fusoid, ovoid with an equatorial germ slit, and are attached on the
side and apex of conidiophore. Colonies grow rapidly and they usually occur in
grape-like masses. The colonies appear woolly to cottony and white with brown
spots on the surface. The reverse side of a colony is pale.

Variations/Species: There are approximately 20 different species of Arthrinium
spp.

Possible Health Effects: Only one species of Arthrinium spp. is considered to
be allergenic. There have been no reported cases of infections or toxin related
diseases in humans or animals.




Aspergillus niger

Where It Is Found: It is a very common environmental
isolate found in a great variety of substrates including
textiles, grains, fruits and vegetables, and soil.

Physical Characteristics: Aspergillus niger appears
ossible Health Effects: Aspergillus niger is the
powdery in texture. The surface color of Aspergillus
niger colonies is black, while from the reverse side
they appear from white to yellow.

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third most common Aspergillus species associated
with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. It is commonly associated with "fungus
ball", a condition where the fungus actively grows in the human lung forming a
ball, without invading lung tissue. Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus
have been reported to cause skin diseases and are a common cause of fungal
related ear infections (otomycosis). Aspergillus niger generates many types of
secondary metabolites including malformin B and some of the naptho-y-
quinones.

Aspergillus spp.

Where It Is Found: Aspergillus spp. is
commonly isolated from forest products,
soil, grains, nuts, cotton, organic debris,
and water-damaged building materials.
Spores can also be found in moist
ventilation systems and house dust.

Physical Characteristics: The major
features of Aspergillus spp. are the
growth rate, color of the colony, and
thermotolerance. Except for Aspergillus
nidulans and Aspergillus glaucus, the growth rate is rapid to moderately rapid,
while Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus glaucus grow slowly. These variations
in growth rate help in species identification.
Aspergillus colonies are downy to powdery in texture. The surface color may vary
depending on the species. The reverse is uncolored to pale yellow in most of the
isolates. However, reverse color may be purple to olive in some strains of
Aspergillus nidulans and orange to purple in Aspergillus versicolor. Aspergillus
fumigatus is a thermotolerant fungus and grows well at temperatures over 40 C.
This property is unique to Aspergillus fumigatus among the Aspergillus species.
Aspergillus fumigatus can grow at a temperature range of 20 to 50 C.

Variations/Species: There are approximately 200 species of Aspergillus spp. It
is one of the most common molds species found around the world.

Possible Health Effects: Sixteen species of Aspergillus spp. have been
documented as etiological agents of human disease but rarely occur in
individuals with normally functioning immune systems. However, due to the
substantial increase in populations of individuals with HIV, chemotherapy
patients and those on corticosteroid treatment, contamination of building
substrates with fungi, particularly Aspergillus spp. is of concern. Aspergillosis is
now the second most common fungal infection requiring hospitalization in the
United States. Many Aspergillus species produce mycotoxins that may be
associated with diseases in humans and other animals. Toxin production is
dependent on the species or strain within the species and on the food source for
the fungus. Some of these toxins are carcinogenic-including aflatoxins and
ochratoxin. Aspergillus spp. is a common cause of extrinsic asthma with
symptoms including edema and bronchiospasms, and chronic cases may
develop pulmonary emphysema. These fungi are frequently secondary
opportunistic pathogens in patients with bronchiectasis, carcinoma, other
mycosis, sarcoid, and tuberculosis.

Aureobasidium spp.

Where it is found: Aureobasidium is a saprobe, or
weak parasite, Type I & III allergen, and common in
a variety of soils outdoors. It is widespread in the
indoor environment and is common in places that
moisture accumulates like bathrooms, kitchens,
shower curtains, tile grout, and windowsills. Indoors
A. pullulans is often found as a black stain on damp
materials in homes such as painted wood.

Physical Characteristics: Aureobasidium spp. is
identifiable by how it produces black, shiny colonies.
This fungus produces abundant spores, that are single-celled, ovoid, and 5-7
microns in size. It grows moderately rapidly and matures within 7 days of
incubation. The colonies are flat, smooth, moist, yeast-like, mucoid to pasty,
shiny and leathery in appearance. The surface is white, pale pink or yellow at
the beginning and becomes brown to black and velvety with a grayish fringe by
aging. The reverse side is pale or black.

Variations/Species: This genus has 15 species, A. pullulans being the most
common.

Possible Health Effects: This species has also been reported to cause
chromoblastomycosis (in an immunocompromised patient), which is a chronic
cutaneous infection of the skin. There have been rare reports of isolates from
skin lesions, keratitis, spleen abscess in a lymphoma patient, and blood isolate
from a leukemic patient.

Bipolaris spp.

Where It Is Found: Bipolaris spp. is a plant parasite
mostly on subtropical and tropical plants, particularly
to Gramineae. This fungus can grow in semi-dry
environments. It is commonly found in dead or dying
plant debris, soils, and grasses. Bipolaris spp. is a
dematiaceous, filamentous fungus. It is cosmopolitan
in nature and is isolated from plant debris and soil.

Physical Characteristics: Bipolaris spp. is
characterized by how it produces brown conidia that
are multi-celled, elliptical, straight, or curved.
Bipolaris spp. colonies grow rapidly and become mature within 5 days. The
texture of the colonies is velvety to woolly. The surface of the colonies is initially
white to grayish brown and become olive green to black with a raised grayish
periphery as they mature. The reverse sides are also darkly pigmented and olive
to black in color.

Variations/Species: The genus Bipolaris contains several species. Among
these, three well-known pathogenic species are Bipolaris spicifera, Bipolaris
australiensis, and Bipolaris hawaiiensis. Bipolaris spp. is closely related with
Dreschlera spp. and Exserohilum spp.

Possible Health Effects: Some species of Bipolaris spp. are pathogenic to
grasses and animals such as the dog, and may cause nasal mycotic granuloma
in cattle. 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 spp. 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.

Botrytis spp.

Where It Is Found: Botrytis spp. is mostly reported
to be found in tropical and temperate areas. This
fungus is a parasite of plants, soft fruits and
vegetables. It is 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.

Physical Characteristics: The conidia within Botrytis spp. are hyaline or gray in
mass, single-celled, ovoid, and 7-14 x 5-9 microns in size. Colonies grow rapidly
and the texture is woolly. The surface color is white at the beginning and
becomes grey to brown in time. Dark spots may be observed on the surface of
the colony. The reverse side is dark.

Variations/Species: There are approximately 30 different species of Botrytis spp.

Possible Health Effects: Botrytis spp. is a Type I & III allergen, not a known
toxin producer or opportunistic pathogen. Botrytis spp. 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.

Chaetomium spp.

Where It Is Found: Chaetomium spp. 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.

Physical Characteristics: In most species of
Chaetomium spp., 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. Chaetomium spp. colonies are rapidly
growing, cottony and white in color initially. Mature colonies become grey to olive
in color. From the reverse side, the color is tan to red or brown to black.

Variations/Species: There are 81 species of Chaetomium spp. in existence
today.

Possible Health Effects: It is reported to be allergenic, as it may cause hay
fever or asthma.

Cladosporium spp.

Where it is found: Cladosporium spp. is the most
frequently found species in outdoor air in
temperate climates. It is also found on dead
plants, woody plants, food, straw, soil, paint, and
textiles. 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 spp. 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 spp. It is
commonly found on the surface of fiberglass duct liners in the interior of supply
ducts.

Physical Characteristics: Cladosporium spp. colonies are powdery or velvety
olive-green to olive-brown. Other characteristics include dark conidia single- or
double-celled, variable in shape and size, ovoid to cylindrical and irregular,
typically lemon-shaped. Most species of the Cladosporium spp. do not grow at
temperatures above 35 C.

Variations/Species: There are 40 different species of Cladosporium spp. and it is
one of the more common molds found around the world.

Possible Health Effects: Cladosporium spp.s ability to sporulate heavily, ease
of dispersal, and buoyant spores makes this fungus the most important fungal
airway allergen; and together with Alternaria spp., 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 immunocompromised 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 immunocompromised hosts.

Curvularia spp.

Where It Is Found: This fungus can be parasitic or
saprophytic. Curvularia spp. is found in plant
debris, soil, facultative plant pathogens of tropical
or subtropical plants.

Physical Characteristics: The conidiophores are
brown, mostly simple, bearing conidia apically;
dark conidia, end cells lighter, three- to five-celled,
more or less fusiform, typically bent, with one of the
central cells enlarged. Curvularia spp. produces
rapidly growing, woolly colonies. From the front,
the color of the colony is white to pinkish gray initially and turns to olive brown or
black as the colony matures. From the reverse, it is dark brown to black.

Variations/Species: There are approximately 30 different species of Curvularia
ossible Health Effects: Reported to be allergenic. It may cause corneal
picoccum spp.
spp. known to be in existence today.

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infections, mycetoma and infections in immune compromised hosts.
Occasionally a cause of onychomycosis, ocular keratitis, sinusitis, mycetoma,
pneumonia, endocarditis, cerebral abscess, and disseminated infection. Most
cases are from immunocompromised patients.

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Where it is found: Epicoccum spp. is commonly
hysical Characteristics: Physical characteristics
a
.


e


found as a secondary invader in plants, soil, grains,
textiles and paper products where Cladosporium
spp. and Aureobasidium spp. are present. It is
mostly saprophytic, or weakly parasitic.
Epicoccum spp. is frequently isolated from air and
occasionally occurs in house dust.

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of Epicoccum spp. are the production of dark
conidia, several-celled (15-celled), globose,
verrucose, 15-25 microns in diameter, and in
Epicoccum spp. grows rapidly and produces
woolly to cottony or felty colonies. From the front, the colonies are yellow to
orange, orange to red or pink initially and become greenish brown to black by
aging. From the reverse, the same color is observed but is usually more intens
than in the front view. Epicoccum spp. may produce a diffusible pigment which
turns the color of the inoculated medium to yellow, orange, red or brown. Black
dots (100-2000 m in diameter) may be observed macroscopically on the colony
surface. These are the tufts of hyphae which have conidiophores on their
fruiting body (sporodochium)
surface. These tufts of hyphae are cushion-shaped and nonconvoluted and
called sporodochia.

are
ariations/Species: There are 2 species of Epicoccum spp.
ossible Health Effects: Epicoccum spp. is reported to be an allergen but not
usarium spp.
V

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in a high frequency. Due to the ability of this fungus to grow at 37 C, it can
cause infection of skin in humans.

F

here it is found: Fusarium spp. is commonly
hysical Characteristics: Physical characteristics
f pink,
r of the
t
ariations/Species: There are approximately 70 different species of Fusarium
ossible Health Effects: This fungus produces very harmful toxins, especially

Geotrichum spp.
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found in soil, plants, grains, and often times
humidifiers.

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of this fungus include extensive cotton-like
mycelium in culture, often with some tinge o
purple or yellow. Fusarium spp. grows rapidly and
produces woolly to cottony, flat, spreading
colonies. The only slow-growing species is
Fusarium dimerum. From the front, the colo
an, salmon, cinnamon, yellow, red, violet, pink, or
purple. From the reverse, it may be colorless, tan, red, dark purple, or brown.

colony may be white, cream,
V
spp.

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in storage of infected crops. These toxins, known as trichothecene (scierpene)
toxins target the circulatory, alimentary, skin, and nervous systems. Fusarium
spp. 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 severely damage the entire digestive tract and cause
rapid death due to internal hemorrhage. 3) Fumosin, commonly found in corn and
corn based products, has had recent outbreaks of veterinary mycotoxicosis
causing "crazy horse disease". 4) Zearalenone toxin, which is similar in chemical
structure to the female sex hormone estrogen, targets the reproductive organs.
Fusarium spp. causes keratitis, endophthalmitis, onychomycosis, mycetoma, and
disseminated infection in immunocompromised patients; infections in burn
victims, and systemic opportunistic infections in
severely disabled hosts.


Where It Is Found: Geotrichum spp. is a yeast found worldwide in soil, water,
air, and sewage, as well as in

Physical Characteristics: It is characterized by the formation of chains of
colorless, slimy spores (conidia) through the fermentation of vegetative filaments.
Geotrichum spp. strains prod
colonies, resembling "ground
becomes yeast-like or slimy.
strains either do not grow at a

Variations/Species: There cur

orts of endocarditis, encephalitis, and osteomyelitis in
munosuppressed hosts. Pulmonary infections have also been described. Many
entifications. No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not
plants, cereals, and dairy products.
uce rapidly growing, white, dry, powdery to cottony
glass." When disturbed on the surface, the colony
The optimal growth temperature is 25 C. Most
ll or grow weakly at 37 C.
rently are three known species of Geotrichum spp.
Possible Health Effects: This genus can sometimes be pathogenic to man.
Health effects include rep
im
of these reports lack proper documentation and may be based on unreliable
id
been well studied.

Memnoniella spp.

Where It Is Found: This fungi and Stachybotrys spp. have a worldwide
distribution and are often found together. It is commonly found in plant litter, soil,
any types of plants and trees.
hysical Characteristics: The conidiophores are dark, simple, bearing at apex a
. and Stachybotrys spp. is that the
onidia are in long persistent chains (aggregated in slimy heads in Stachybotrys
t studies on mycotoxins revealed that
emnoniella echinata can have toxicity similar to that of some isolates of S.
M.
s differ in that the
rmer produces macrocyclic and trichoverroid trichothecenes and the latter
m

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cluster of thick, short phialides; conidia of Memnoniella echinata are very similar
to those of Stachybotrys spp., as they are dark, single-celled, and globose. The
major difference between Memnoniella spp
c
spp.). Also the aerodynamic diameter of Memnoniella spp. is smaller and it would
be expected to have an even greater potential to penetrate deep into lungs than
the conidia of Stachybotrys spp.

Variations/Species: There are approximately 5 species of Memnoniella spp.
Memnoniella spp. is very closely related to Stachybotrys spp.

Possible Health Effects: Recen
M
chartarum. In terms of their chemical products, both S. chartarum and
echinata produce phenylspirodrimanes, but these two organism
fo
produces griseofulvins. Both produce varying amounts of simple trichothecenes.
Thus, it is suggested that Memnoniella spp. should also be considered potentially
dangerous in indoor air.

Mucor spp.

Where It Is Found: Often found in soils, dead
plant material (hay), horse dung, fruits and fruit
juice. It is also found in leather, meat, dairy
products, animal hair, and jute. It is almost always
in house dust, frequently in air samples and old
ly
m
u developed around a
ons. Identification is based on the way
sporangia are formed. Colo
chial
sts). It is an opportunistic pathogenic organism and it may cause mucorosis in
l
inus, brain, eye, and skin. Infection may have multiple sites. Mucor spp. causes
dirty carpets. Wood chips and sawdust are often
attacked by M. plimbeus causing "wood chips
disease" and "furriers lung". Accumulated dust in
ventilation ducts may contain high concentrations
of viable Mucor spp. spores.

Physical Characteristics: This organism and other
on most fungal media. Conidia (aplanospores) are
icrons in diameter, yellowish brown and slightly
ced in sporangia that are
Zygomycetes will grow rapid
globose to ellipsoidal, 7-8
rough-walled, and are prod
piriform columella with typical projecti
nies of Mucor grow rapidly at 25-30 C. Its fluffy
appearance with a height of several centimeters resembles cotton candy. From
the front, the color is white initially and becomes grayish brown in time. From the
reverse, it is white. Mucor indicus is an aromatic species and may grow at
temperatures as high as 40 C. Mucor racemosus and Mucor ramosissimus, on
the other hand, grow poorly or do not grow at all at 37 C.

Variations/Species: There are approximately 50 different species of Mucor spp.

Possible Health Effects: Asthmatic reactions to Mucor spp. have been
described. It is a Zygomecete fungus that may be allergenic (skin and bron
te
immune compromised individuals. The sites of infections are the lung, nasa
s
rare infections in severely debilitated patients.

Nigrospora spp.

Where It Is Found: This fungus can be a plant
parasite and can be found within soil.

Physical Characteristics: Physical characteristics
clude shiny black conidia, single-celled, egg-
or germ slit.
igrospora spp. often appears as white wooly
ite
in
shaped to flattened-spherical, produced singly, and
often have an equatorial colorless line
N
colonies growing fairly rapidly. The colonies
mature within 4 days. Color of the colony is wh
initially and then becomes gray with black areas and turns to black eventually
from both front and reverse. Sporulation may take more than 3 weeks for some
isolates.

Variations/Species: There are 5 species of Nigrospora spp.


ossible Health Effects: Nigrospora is reported to be allergenic. There have
rospora spp.
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been extremely rare cases of human infection caused by Nig

Paecilomyces spp.

Where It Is Found: Commonly found in soil and
dust, but less frequently in air. P. variotii can cause
aecilomycosis. Paecilomyces spp. can be found
dly and mature within 3 days.
aecilomyces crustaceus and Paecilomyces
we

o
bers of this genus are reported to cause
ted as a causative agent of allergic alveolitis. It
p
within soil and decaying plant material, composting
processes, legumes, cottonseeds; some species
parasitize insects.

Physical Characteristics: Paecilomyces spp.
colonies grow rapi
P
variotii are thermophilic and can grow ll at
and possibly 60 C. The colonies are flat, powdery
lor is initially white, and becomes yellow, yellow-
wn, pink, or violet, depending on the species. The
reverse side is dirty white, buff or brown.

Variations/Species: There are approximately 30 different species of
Paecilomyces spp.
temperatures as high as 50
or velvety in texture. The c
green, yellow-brown, olive-bro
s. Some mem
neumonia. It has also been repor

Possible Health Effects: Linked to wood-trimmers disease and humidifier-
associated illnesse
p
may produce arsine gas if growing on arsenic substrate; this can occur on
wallpapers covered with Paris green. Mycotic keratitis in conjunction with
corneal implants, nosocomial infections, endocarditis, infections in
immunocompromised patients have been reportedly linked to Paecilomyces spp.

Pithomyces spp.

Where It Is Found: This fungus is found
mainly growing on decaying plants, grasses,
and soils.
Physical Characteristics: The most
common isolated species is P. chartarum and

its spores have both longitudinal and transverse septa.

Variations/Species: There are approximately 15 species of Pithomyces spp.

Possible Health Effects: Pithomy
sporidesmin which is known to be facial eczema
and liver damage. Spores are produced at the apex of short side branches of
vegetative filaments, are dark brown e

Penicillium spp.
ces spp. produces a mycotoxin called
pathogenic in animals causing
, and double- to several c lled.
ere It Is Found: Penicillium spp. is often
nd in aerosol samples. It is commonly found


Wh
fou
in soil, food, cellulose, paint, grains, and
compost piles. It can be found in carpet,
wallpaper, and in interior fiberglass duct
insulation. P. chrysogenum has been found on
g n, olive gray, yellow or pinkish in
Penicillium marneffei is
c
h
b
typical. At 37 C, Penicillium mar
d to be allergenic (skin) and it may cause
ypersensitivity pneumonitis and allergic alveolitis in susceptible individuals. It
1) Ochratoxin which is damaging to
e kidneys and liver and is also a suspected carcinogen; there is also evidence
building materials including paints, chip boards,
and wallpaper.

Physical Characteristics: The colonies of
Penicillium spp. other than Penicillium marneffei
are rapid growing, flat, filamentous, and velvety,
woolly, or cottony in texture. The colonies are
reen, gray gree initially white and become blue
time. The plate reverse is usually pale to yellowish.
thermally dimorphic and produ
25 C. These colonies are bluis
The red, rapidly diffusing, solu
es filamentous, flat, radially sulcate colonies at
-gray-green at center and white at the periphery.
le pigment observed from the reverse is very
neffei colonies are cream to slightly pink in color
and glabrous to convoluted in texture.

Variations/Species: Approximately 200 species belong to this genus. Penicillium
spp. is commonly found around the world.

Possible Health Effects: Although this fungus is less allergy-provoking than the
other molds, Penicillium spp. is reporte
h
can cause other infections such as keratitis, penicilliosis, and otomycosis. Some
species can produce mycotoxins including
th
that it impairs the immune system. 2) Citrinin that can cause renal damage,
vasodilatation, and bronchial constriction. 3) Gliotoxin which is an
immunosuppressive toxin, and 4) Patulin that is believed to cause hemorrhaging
in the brain and lungs and is usually associated with apple and grape spoilage. It
can also cause extrinsic asthma. P. camemberti has been responsible for
inducing occupational allergies among those who work with soft white cheeses
on which the fungus grows.

Rhizopus spp.

Where It Is Found: Rhizopus spp. is found in forest and cultivated soils,
decaying fruits and vegetables, animal dung and compost. It is a parasitic plant
pathogen on potato, cotton and various fruits.
eristics: Nonseptate or sparsely septate broad hyphae (6-15
m in diameter), sporangiophores, rhizoids (root-like hyphae), sporangia, and
meet. Sporangia (40-350 m in
iameter) are located at the tip of the sporangiophores. They are round with
lungs,
astrointestinal tract, and skin). This disease is associated with the acidotic
eases
uch as leukemia and lymphoma, immunosuppressive therapy, or use of

Physical Charact

sporangiospores are visualized. Sporangiophores are brown in color and usually

unbranched. They can be solitary or form clusters. Rhizoids are located at the
point where the stolons and sporangiophores
d
flattened bases. Apophysis is absent or rarely apparent and columellae are
hemispherical. Sporangiospores (4-11 m in diameter) are unicellular, round to
ovoid in shape, hyaline to brown in color, and smooth or striated in texture.

Variations/Species: There are approximately 12 species of Rhizopus spp.

Possible Health Effects: It has been reported to be allergenic and it is often
linked to occupational allergy. It may cause mucorosis in immune compromised
individuals. It may also cause zygomycosis (rhino-facial-cranial area,
g
diabetes, malnourished children, severely burned patients, and other dis
s
cytotoxins and corticosteroids. The fungi show a propensity for vessel invasion
resulting in embolization and necrosis of surrounding tissue. Rhizopus spp. is
the principal cause of zygomycosis, which occurs primarily in patients suffering
from diabetic ketoacidosis (rhinocerebral disease), malnutrition, severe burns, or
who are immunocompromised.

Sporothrix spp.

Where It Is Found: Sporothrix spp. is a
thermally dimorphic fungus which is distributed
worldwide and isolated from soil, living and
decomposing plants, woods, and peat moss.

hysical Characteristics: Physical


P
a loose cluster of dry conidia at
ovoid, born on short, prominent

characteristics include conidiophores mostly
simple, single-celled or septate, hyaline, bearing
apex; conidia, hyaline, single-celled, globose to
denticles. Mostly found as saprophyte.
Variations/Species: There are three species in this genus.

Possible Health Effects: It can cause sporotrichosis. Usually only i
populations which are immune comp
n
romised. Sporothrix schenckii is an
ccasional cause of human infections.
porotrichum spp.
o

S
found on decaying plant matter, wet and
rotting wood and in landscaping mulch.

hysical Characteristics: It is physically similar to
pp.
o powdery.
rom the front, the color is initially white and then

The only information available regarding health
ffects are a few rare cases of repeated isolations from respiratory secretions

Where It Is Found: Sporotrichum spp. is
commonly

Variations/Species: There is
in this genus.

Possible Health Effects:
P
the human pathogen Sporothrix s Colonies of
Sporotrichum pruinosum grow rapidly and mature
within 5 days. The texture is velvety t
F
becomes rosy beige, pinkish, yellow or orange.
From the reverse, it is tannish.
only one known species, Sporotrichum pruinosum,
e
suggestive of bronchopulmonary colonization.


colony is white initially and tu

Variations/Species: There ar


Stachybotrys spp.

Where it is found: Stachybotrys spp. thrives on
water damaged cellulose rich materials such as
sheet rock, paper, ceiling tiles, cellulose-containing
insulation backing and wallpaper.
oduces cottony,
pidly growing colonies which mature in about 4
r
e

Physical Characteristics: Stachybotrys spp.
typically appears as a sooty black fungus
occasionally accompanied by a thick mass of white
mycelia. Stachybotrys spp. pr
ra
days. From both front and reverse, the color of the
ns to black by aging.
15 known species of Stachybotrys spp.
Possible Health Effects: The presence of this fungus in buildings is significant
ecause of the molds ability to produce mycotoxins, which are extremely toxic,
inhalation,
gestion or dermal exposure. Symptoms include dermatitis, cough, rhinitis, nose
b
such as Satratoxin H. Exposure to these toxins can occur through
in
bleeds, a burning sensation in the mouth and nasal passage, cold and flu
symptoms, headache, general malaise, and fever. Inhalation of conidia may also
induce pathological changes (pneumomycotoxicoses). Satratoxin H has been
reported to be abortigenic in animals and in high doses or chronic low doses it
can be lethal.

Stemphylium spp.

Where It Is Found: Stemphylium spp is found on soil, wood, and
decaying vegetation. Some species found on leaves are plant
gens.
obose, broadly ellipsoid, or ovoid, often constricted
t major septum. Colonies of Stemphylium spp. grow rapidly and
o
c
yncephalastrum spp.
patho

Physical Characteristics: Physical characteristics are dark
conidia, with cross and longitudinal septa, variable in shape,
frequently gl
a
mature in 5 days. They are velvety to cottony in texture. From
lor is gray, brown, or brownish-black. The reverse side is black.
ies: There are approximately 6 species of Stemphylium spp.
Possible Health Effects: Stemphylium spp. is reportedly a Type I allergen.
the front, the c

Variations/Spe



S
Where It Is Found: Syncephalastrum spp. is
usually found in soils and in dung.

hysical Characteristics: Physically it is distinct
rangioles, each
roducing a row of nearly spherical conidia.
a
e
racemosum.

and turns to dark gray to bl
brown

Variations/Species: This g
P
with conidiophores erect, branched, tips enlarged,
bearing a head of rod-shaped spo
p
Colonies of Syncephalastrum spp. grow very
rapidly and the maximum growth temperature is
40 C. The texture of the colony is wooly to cotton
candy-like. From the front, the color is white initially
ck in time. The reverse side is pale or yellowish-
nus contains one species, Syncephalastrum

Possible Health Effects: This organism is considered to be primarily non-
athogenic in humans, although a single case of a cutaneous infection was
richoderma spp.
p
reported in 1980.

T
commonly found in soil. Trichoderma spp. is often
found in litter materials (polluted streams, sewage
plants and driftwood). It is found on paper, and in
kitchens on many common tableware materials. T.
o
n
A
come visible. These patches may sometimes form
oncentric rings. Reverse is pale, tan, or yellowish.
ile organic compounds may
ause symptoms similar to those of Stachybotrys spp. reactions.
locladium spp.

Where It Is Found: Trichoderma spp. is most
viridae is often isolated from indoor air samples
and house dust. Materials such as wood
construction and mineral fiber panels can be very
affected by this fungus. Trichoderma spp. has
been identified on soil, decaying wood, grains,
citrus fruit, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, paper,
lonies of Trichoderma spp. grow rapidly and
ies are wooly and become compact in time. From
s the conidia are formed, scattered blue-green or
yellow-green patches be
textiles, and damp wood.

Physical Characteristics: C
mature in 5 days. The colo
the front, the color is white.
c

Variations/Species: There are approximately 20 species within this genus.

Possible Health Effects: Trichoderma spp. is reported to be allergenic but is
relatively rare. Inhalation of the conidia or the volat
c

U
d soils. Some
species can be also found on dead herbaceous
plants, rotten woods, paper, textiles, and other
rganic substrates (cellulose) such as water-
the color is olive brown to blac

Where It Is Found: It is commonly found as a
saprophyte on plant materials an
o
damaged building materials. Ulocladium spp. is
also found in dust and air samples.

Physical Characteristics: Colonies of Ulocladium
spp. grow moderately rapidly. The colonies are
wooly to cottony. From the front and the reverse,
k.

Variations/Species: There are approximately 9 species within this genus.

Possible Health Effects: This fungus is reported to be allergenic and
onsidered cosmopolitan. Ulocladium spp. is known to be a common airway c
allergen.

Verticillium spp.

diseases.
filaments on conidiophores. Conidia are co
collected in small wet masses. Colonies of
rapidly or rapidly. The
Where It Is Found: Commonly found in soil and
decaying plant matter, known also to cause plant

lorless, single- or double-celled,
Verticillium spp. grow moderately
o
y considered to be nonpathogenic in
umans. A few cases of keratitis have been reported but remain questionable.

Physical Characteristics: Characterized by whorls of
phialides produced along the length of undifferentiated
colonies are velvety to wooly. From the front, the color is
mes yellowish, red, pinkish-brown, or green. From the
reverse, it is white or brown (rust color).

Variations/Species: There are 4 known species within this genus.

Possible Health Effects: It is normall
white initially and bec
h
Allergenicity has not been well studied.

EXPOSURE TERMS

Exposure Terms Defined
Term Exposure (Days)
Acute 1-14
Intermediate 15-364
Chronic 365 or more

Four Classes of Immune-Mediated Hypersensitivity Reactions
Type I Immediate
Type II Antibody-Mediated Cytotoxic
Type III Immune Complex
Type IV Delayed

GLOSSARY OF COMMON TERMS

Abortigenic a drug or compound that induces the expulsion of an embryo or
fetus.
Acidosis an abnormal increase in the acidity of the body's fluids, caused either
by accumulation of acids or by depletion of bicarbonates.
Acidotic diabetes Diabetic Ketoacidosis; occurs when a person maintains high
blood to sugar ratios in the presence of persistant large amounts of ketones.
Aflatoxins any group of toxic compounds produced by certain molds that
contaminate stored food supplies, such as animal feed and peanuts.
Alimentary providing nourishment.
Alveolitis inflammation of the alveoli in the lungs caused by inhaling dust; with
repeated exposure the condition may become chronic.
Apex the highest point; the vertex.
Apophysis a natural swelling, projection, or outgrowth of an organ or part, such
as the process of a vertebra.
Asci a membranous, often club-shaped structure in which typically eight
ascospores are formed through sexual reproduction of ascomycetes.
Ascomycetes any of various members of a large group of fungi characterized
by the presence of sexually produced spores.
Aspergillosis an opportunistic infection by a fungus of the genus aspergillus;
characterized by inflammation and lesions of the ear and other organs.
Bakers asthma an occupational disease affecting the lungs and characterized
by chronic shortness of breath caused by an allergic reaction to fungal spores
present in flour.
Bronchiectasis chronic dilation of the brochial tubes.
Bronchiospasms a sudden involuntary contraction of the bronchioles.
Bronchopulmonary relating to the bronchial tubes and the lungs.
Carcinogen a cancer causing agent.
Carcinoma an invasive malignant tumor derived from epithelial tissue that
tends to metastasize to other areas of the body.
Cerebral abscess inflammation in the brain caused by bacteria of fungi.
Chromoblastomycosis chronic cutaneous infection of the skin.
Citrinin antibiotic and mycotoxin from aspergillus niveus and penicillium
citrinum.
Columellae any small columnlike structure in various plants and animals, often
forming the central axis of development for the organism or an anatomical
structure.
Concentric rings rings concentrated around one area.
Conidia an asexually produced fungal spore.
Conidiophores a specialized fungal hyphae that produces conidia.
Convoluted intricate; having many folds or coils.
Corticosteroid any of the steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex or
their synthetic equivalents, such as cortisol and aldosterone.
Cutaneous of, relating to, or affecting the skin.
Cytotoxins a substance having a specific toxic effect on certain cells.
Dematiaceous denoting dark conidia and/or hyphae, usually brown or black.
Denticles a small tooth or toothlike projection.
Dermatitis inflammation of the skin.
Diffusible to pour out and permit or cause to spread freely.
Dimorphic existing or occurring in two distinct forms.
Disseminated infection an infection that spreads throughout the body.
Dyspnea difficulty in breathing, often associated with lung or heart disease and
resulting in shortness of breath.
Edema swelling due to fluid filling up in body cavities or tissues.
Encephalitis inflammation of the brain.
Endocarditis inflammation of the endocardium.
Endophthalmitis inflammation of the tissues within the eyeball.
Germ slit a thin, often paler, line running along or across a spore and through
which germination may occur.
Etiologic agent an agent that causes a disease.
Extrinsic asthma characterized by attacks of labored breathing, chest
constriction, and coughing caused by an agent from outside the human body.
Facultative capable of functioning under varying environmental conditions.
Farmers lung an occupational disease affecting the lungs and characterized by
chronic shortness of breath caused by an allergic reaction to fungal spores
present in moldy hay dust that has been inhaled.
Fascia a sheet or band of fibrous connective tissue enveloping, separating, or
binding together muscles, organs, and other soft structures of the body.
Filament a chainlike series of cells, as in many algae.
Fumosin toxin produced by mold.
Fusiform tapering at each end; spindle-shaped.
Fusoid somewhat spindle-shaped.
Genus a taxonomic category ranking below a family and above a species and
generally consisting of a group of species exhibiting similar characteristics.
Glabrous having no hairs, projections, or pubescence; smooth.
Gliotoxin a toxic substance which acts mainly against certain viruses by
preventing replication of viral DNA. It also has harmful effects on bacteria and
fungi. It is produced by certain fungi, including Trichoderma viride.
Globose spherical.
Gramineae chiefly herbaceous but some woody plants including cereals,
bamboo, reeds and sugar cane.
Granuloma a mass of inflamed granulation tissue, usually associated with
ulcerated infections.
Griseofulvins an antibiotic, C
17
H
17
ClO
6
, administered orally for the treatment of
ringworm and other fungal infections of the skin, hair, and nails.
Herbaceous relating to or characteristic of an herb as distinguished from a
woody plant.
Hyaline resembling glass, as in translucence or transparency.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis chronic progressive form of pneumonia with
wheezing and dyspnea; occurs following exposure to any of a variety of antigens,
sometimes occupational, and many names are given to cases with known types
of exposure (such as farmer's lung, maple bark stripper's lung, chicken plucker's
lung, bagassosis, byssinosis, and humidifier lung).
Hyphae any of the threadlike filaments forming the mycelium of a fungus.
Inoculate to give a weak form of a disease to a person or animal, usually by
injection, as a protection against that disease.
Keratitis inflammation of the cornea.
Keratomycosis fungal infection of the cornea.
Ketoacidosis acidosis accompanied by the accumulation of ketone bodies
(ketosis) in the body tissues and fluids, as in diabetic acidosis.
Macroscopically relating to observations made by the unaided eye.
Malaise a vague feeling of bodily discomfort, as at the beginning of an illness.
Malformin-B a phototoxic metabolite produced by aspergillus niger.
Metabolite any substance produced by the metabolism process in a living
organism.
Mucorosis an infection with tissue invasion by broad, nonseptate, irregularly
shaped hyphae of diverse fungal species to the lungs, nasal sinus, brain, skin or
eyes.
Mycelia the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a mass of branching,
threadlike hyphae.
Mycetoma a chronic, slowly progressing bacterial or fungal infection usually of
the foot or leg, characterized by nodules that discharge an oily pus.
Mycosis a fungal infection in or on part of the body.
Mycotic dealing with a disease caused by a fungus.
Mycotic keratitis inflammation of the cornea caused by fungus.
Mycotoxicosis poisoning caused by ingestion of a mycotoxin.
Mycotoxin toxin produced by a fungus.
Nonconvoluted simple; not containing folds or coils.
Nonseptate not divided by a septum or septa.
Nosocomial infections pertaining to or originating in the hospital, said of an
infection not present or incubating prior to admittance to the hospital, but
generally occurring 72 hours after admittance, the term is usually used to refer to
patient disease, but hospital personnel may also acquire nosocomial infections.
Ochratoxin a mycotoxin produced by a fungus of the genus aspergillus spp.
Ocular keratitis inflammation of the cornea.
Onychomycosis an infection causing nails to split, flake, and grow too thick.
Osteomyelitis a usually bacterial infection of bone and bone marrow in which
the resulting inflammation can lead to a reduction of blood supply to the bone.
Otomycosis an infection due to a fungus in the external auditory canal, usually
unilateral, with scaling, itching, and pain as the primary symptoms.
Ovoid something shaped like an egg.
Pathogen an agent that causes disease.
Patulin a mycotoxin produced by several species of aspergillus spp. and
penicillium spp.
Penicilliosis infection with fungi of the genus penicillium spp. and characterised
in dogs by chronic sneezing and a nasal discharge.
Perithecium a small flask-shaped fruiting body in ascomycetous fungi that
contains the ascospores.
Phaeohyphomycosis a group of superficial and deep infections caused by fungi
that form pigmented hyphae and yeastlike cells in tissue.
Phenylspirodrimanes potent immunosuppressive agent.
Phialide a cell that produces conidia.
Piriform columella the central sterile portion of the sporangium in various fungi
that is in the shape of a pear.
Pneumomycotoxicoses pathological changes.
Pneumonitis inflammation of the lung tissue.
Pulmonary emphysema a condition of the lungs marked by decreased
respiratory function.
Renal damage kidney damage.
Rhinitis inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes.
Rhizoids a rootlike extension of the thallus of a fungus
Saprobe an organism that derives its nourishment from nonliving or decaying
organic matter.
Saratoxin H a potent mycotoxin.
Sarcoid a tumor resembling a malignant tumor arising from connective tissues.
Septa a thin partition or membrane that divides two cavities or soft masses of
tissue in an organism.
Septate divided by a septum or septa.
Sinusitis inflammation of the sinuses or a sinus, especially in the nasal region.
Sporangia a single-celled or many-celled structure in which spores are
produced, as in fungi, algae, mosses, and ferns.
Sporangiospores a specialized branch bearing one or more sporangia.
Sporodochium a cushion-shaped stroma covered with conidiophores in a
fungus.
Sporotrichosis a chronic infectious disease of domestic mammals and humans,
characterized by nodules or ulcers in the lymph nodes and skin and caused by a
saprophytic or parasitic fungus of the genus Sporothrix, especially S. schenckii,
commonly found in soil and wood.
Sporulate to produce or release spores.
Sterigmatocystin a carcinogenic mycotoxin produced in high yields by strains of
the common mold, Aspergillus versicolor.
Stroma the connective tissue framework of an organ, gland, or other structure.
Subcutaneous located or placed just beneath the skin.
Sulcate having narrow, deep furrows or grooves, as a stem or tissue.
T-2 toxin a potent mycotoxin produced in feedstuffs by several species of the
genus fusarium. It elicits a severe inflammatory reaction in animals and has
teratogenic effects.
Tenuzonic acid a metabolite found in a strain of the fungus alternaria tenuis
auct, which functions as an antibiotic with antiviral and antineoplastic properties,
and may also act as a mycotoxin.
Thermophilic requiring high temperatures for normal development, as certain
bacteria.
Trichothecene any of several mycotoxins that are produced by imperfect fungi
and that include some contaminants of livestock feed and some held to be found
in yellow rain.
Trichoverroid immunosuppressive.
Tufts a short cluster of elongated strands, as of yarn, hair, or grass, attached at
the base or growing close together.
Vasodilatation dilation of a blood vessel, as by the action of a nerve or drug.
Vergosin antifungal compound.
Verrucose covered with warts or wartlike projections.
Vomotoxin deoxynivalenol.
Whorl ring of leaves or a stem.
Zearalenone one of a group of compounds known under the general
designation of resorcylic acid lactones.
Zygomycetes a class of fungi.
Zygomycosis a fungal infection caused by infection with various fungi from the
class Zygomycetes.