|
Aspergillus fumigatus
The U.S. Government's Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] lists Aspergillus fumigatus as an allergen and an irritant and a cause of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis and Dermatitis.
Aspergillus fumigatus is a causative agent of Aspergillosis, Keratomycosis, Keratinomycosis. (Information from www.doctorfungus.org @ 2005)
|
|||
|
Aspergillus fumigatus Mold Pictures
A microscopic view of Aspergillus fumigatus showing typical columnar, uniseriate conidial heads. Take note of the conical - shaped terminal vesicles which support a single row of phialides on the upper two - thirds of the vesicle. Commonly, conidia are produced in long chains, however, during slide preparation the conidial chains are usually disrupted as what can be seen on the picture above. (Information from DoctorFungus.org) The above microscopic picture of Aspergillus fumigatus are taken by our Mold Microbiologist, Ma. Adee Light E. Hilado, during mold sample analysis.
(Image Courtesy of www.doctorfungus.org @ 2005)
Aspergillus fumigatus on Czapek dox agar showing typical blue - green surface pigmentation with a suede - like surface consisting of a dense felt of conidiophores.
For more Aspergillus mold pictures, please visit: Aspergillus mold pictures and Aspergillus fumigatus picture. |
|||
|
Ecology
Aspergillus fumigatus is a cosmopolitan and thermotolerant fungus which is isolated primarily from compost, plant material and from soil. It is considered as one of the most common aspergilli in nature which grows mainly in warm environments.
Pathogenicity and Health Effects Aspergillus fumigatus is an occasional causative agent of aspergillosis in humans. Cases of pulmonary, nasal, cerebral, bone, ocular, cardiovascular, and organ infections have been reported, especially among immunocompromised patient. Aspergillus fumigatus is also an agent of mycotic abortion in the cow and of respiratory infections in fowl.
Macroscopic Appearance
Ø Growth rate is rapid and the texture of colonies varies from wooly to cottony to granular; Ø Surface colony color is smoky gray - green and the reverse is yellow, however, some isolates may show a lavender diffusible pigment; and Ø Color of very mature colonies turn to slate gray while atypical colonies may remain white with slight conidiation.
Microscopic Appearance
Ø Conidial heads are in the form of compact columns in an undisturbed culture; Ø Conidiophores are smooth – walled, often tinted greenish, up to 300 µm long, and terminate in a dome – shaped vesicle with a diameter of 20 – 30 µm long; Ø Hyphae are septate and hyaline; Ø The species is uniseriate producing a closely compacted phialides with size ranging from 5 - 10 x 2 – 3 µm, and only occurring on the upper portion of the vesicle; and Ø Conidia are round to sub – globose, smooth to finely roughened, and with diameter size of 2 – 3.5 µm.
|
|||
|
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: |
|
||
|
|
|||
