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Aspergillus flavus The U.S. Government's Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] lists Aspergillus flavus as an allergen and an irritant and a cause of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis and Dermatitis.
Aspergillus flavus is a causative agent of Aspergillosis. (Information from www.doctorfungus.org @ 2005)
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Aspergillus flavus Mold Picture
*Take note of the radiate conidial head of the Aspergillus flavus specimen which is considered as one of its characteristics, however, as the species mature the conidial head may split into blocky columns. (Information from A Clinical Laboratory Handbook: Identifying Filamentous Fungi)
The microscopic picture of Aspergillus flavus is taken by our Mold Microbiologist, Ma. Adee Light E. Hilado during mold sample analysis. For more Aspergillus mold pictures, please visit: Aspergillus mold pictures and Aspergillus flavus picture.
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Ecology
Aspergillus flavus is a cosmopolitan fungus which is isolated primarily from plants and soil. It is known for its aflatoxin produced in certain food such as peanuts.
Pathogenicity and Health Effects Aspergillus flavus is an occasional causative agent of pulmonary or disseminated infections among immunocompromised patients. Cases of onychomycosis and sinusitis have also been reported. Aspergillus flavus may also be the agent of respiratory infections in animals.
Macroscopic Appearance
Ø Growth rate is rapid and the texture of colonies varies from wooly to cottony to granular; Ø Sclerotia are dark brown in color when present; and Ø The surface colony color is olive to lime green and the reverse is cream or pale.
Microscopic Appearance
Ø Conidial heads are mostly radiate with conidial masses splitting into blocky columns with age ; Ø Conidiophores are with roughened walls especially near the vesicle, with size of 800 µm long x 15 – 20 µm wide; Ø Hyphae are septate and hyaline; vesicles are globose to sub – globose with size ranging from 20 – 45 µm; metulae cover the entire vesicle in biseriate species and with size ranging from 8 – 10 x 5 – 7 µm; Ø Some isolates may be uniseriate producing only phialides covering the vesicle, and with size ranging from 8 - 12 x 3 – 4 µm; and Ø Conidia are round, globose to sub – globose, with smooth to finely roughened walls, appear in chains, and with diameter size of 3 - 6 µm.
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The mycological information http://www.doctorfungus.org http://www.mycology.adelaide.edu.au http://www.mycology.net http://www.clinical-mycology.com http://www.botany.utoronto.ca http://www.med.sc.edu http://www.tigr.org http://www.pangloss.ucsfmedicalcenter.org http://www.dermnz.org http://www.wadsworth.org http://botit.botany.wisc.edu
A Clinical Laboratory Handbook: |
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