Glossary of mold types |
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Acremonium
sp (Cephalosporium sp.) - Reported to be allergenic. Can produce a trichothecene
toxin which is toxic if ingested. It was the primary fungus identified in
at least two houses where the occupant complaints were nausea, vomiting, and
diarrhea. Asexual state of Emericellopsis sp., Chaetomium sp., and Nectripsis
sp. It can produce mycetomas, infections of the nails, onychomycosis, corneal
ulcers, eumycotic mycetoma, endophthalmitis, meningitis, and endocarditic.
Alternaria sp - Extremely widespread and ubiquitous. Outdoors
it may be isolated from samples of soil, seeds, and plants. It is commonly
found in outdoor samples. It is often found in carpets, textiles, and on horizontal
surfaces in building interiors. Often found on window frames. The species
Alter aria is capable of producing tenuazonic acid and other toxic metabolites
which may be associated with disease in humans or animals. Alternaria produces
large spores having sizes between 20 - 200 microns in length and 7 - 18 microns
in width, suggesing that the spores from this fungi are deposited in the nose,
mouth, and upper respiratory tract. It may be related to bakers asthma. It
has been associated with hypersensitivity pneumoniti, sinusitis, deratomycosis,
onychomycosis, subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, and invasive infection. Common
cause of extrinsic asthma (immediate-type hypersensitivity: type I). Acute
symptoms include edema and bronchiospasms, chronic cases may develop pulmonary
emphysema.
Arthrinium phaeospermum - Widespread saprophyte on dead plant
material, particularly swampy grasses. Should be considered an allergen. This
fungus has also been documented in various subcutaneous infections. No toxic
related diseases are of record to date.
Ascomycete - One of the major classes of fungal organisms. This
class contains the the"sac fungi" and yeasts. Some ascomycete spores can be
identified by spore morphology, however; some care should be excersised with
regard to specific identification. Many ascomycete spores are reported to
be allergenic.
Aspergillus sp - A genus of fungi containing approximately 150
recognized species. Members of this genus have been recovered from a variety
of habitats, but are especially common as saprophytes on decaying vegetation,
soils, stored food, feed products in tropical and subtropical regions. Some
species are parasitic on insects, plants and animals, including man. Species
within this genus have reported Aw's (water activities) between 0.75 - 0.82.
All of the species contained in this genus should be considered allergenic.
Various Aspergillus species are a common cause of extrinsic asthma (immediate-type
hypersensitivity: type I). Acute symptoms include edema and bronchiospasms.
Chronic cases may develop pulmonary emphysema. Members of this genus are reported
to cause a variety of opportunistic infections of the ears and eyes. Sever
pulmonary infections may also occur. Many species produce mycotoxins which
may be associated with disease in humans and other animals. Toxin production
is dependent on the species or a strain within a species and on the food source
for the fungus. Some of these toxins have been found to be carcinogenic in
animal species. Several toxins are considered potential human carcinogens.
Aureobasidium pullulans - A cosmopolitan fungus with the main
habitat apparently on the aerial parts of plants. Frequently found in moist
environments. This fungus should be considered allergenic. This species has
been associated with deratitis, peritonitis, pulmaonary infection, and invasive
disease in AIDS patients. Probably aquired by traumatic implantation. May
be recovered as a contaminant from human cutaneous sites. No toxic diseases
have been documented to date.
Basidiomycetes - One of the major classes of fungal organisms.
This class contains the mushrooms, shelf fungi, puffballs, and a variety of
other macrofungi. It is extremely difficult to identify a specific genera
of mushrooms by using standard culture plate techniques. Some basidiomycete
spores can be identified by spore morphology, however; some care should be
exercised with regard to specific identification. Many basidiomycete spores
are reported to be allergenic.
Bipolaris sp - A widespread fungus that is most frequently associated
with grasses, plant material, decaying food, and soil. It is common to both
indoor and outdoor environments. Older obsolete names include Drechslera and
Helminthosporium. This fungus produces large spores which would be expected
to be deposited in the upper respiratory tract. Various species of this fungus
can produce the mycotoxin - sterigmatocystin which has been shown to produce
liver and kidney damage when ingested by laboratory animals.
Candida sp - This genus contains a variety of organisms that have
been isolated from the environment, as well as human skin and mucous membranes.
Chaetomium sp. - Large ascomycetous fungus producing perithecia. It is found on a variety of substrates containing cellulose including paper and plant compost. It can be readily found on the damp or water damaged paper in sheetrock.