Trichoderma Mold SpeciesThe U.S. Government's Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] classifies Trichoderma species as an allergen and irritant and a cause of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis and Dermatitis.
Trichoderma species is a causative agent of Hyalohyphomycosis and Peritonitis. (Information from www.doctorfungus.org @ 2005)
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Taxonomic Classifications
Kingdom:
Fungi
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Ecology Trichoderma is a cosmopolitan, filamentous fungus that is commonly isolated from soil and from wood. Hypocrea species are the teleomorph of some Trichoderma species. Trichoderma may cause infections in presence of certain influential factors, aside from commonly being considered as a contaminant.
Species There are five species belonging to the genus Trichoderma namely, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma koningii, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Trichoderma pseudokoningii, and Trichoderma viride. Apart from these, there are two other species that have been proposed, Trichoderma asperelum and Trichoderma citrinoviride; however, their identity and clinical significance remain unreliable and unverified. In the differentiation of these species from one another, the morphological features of their conidia and phialides are of great importance.
Pathogenicity and Health Effects Trichoderma species are usually considered as non – pathogenic, on the other hand, Trichoderma viride has been reported as a causative agent of pulmonary infection, peritonitis in a dialysis patient, and perihepatic infection in a liver transplant patient. Trichoderma infections are opportunistic in nature and develop in immunocompromised patients, such as neutropenic cases and transplant patients, as well as those with chronic renal failure, chronic lung disease, or amyloidosis. Disseminated infections due to Trichoderma have also been reported.
Macroscopic Appearance Ø Growth rate is rapid and colonies are wooly becoming compact in time; and Ø The surface colony color is white and scattered greenish patches become visible as the conidia are formed and may form concentric rings at times while on the reverse, the color is pale, tan, or yellowish;
Microscopic Appearance Ø Septate hyaline hyphae, conidiophores, phialides, and conidia are present; Ø Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Trichoderma viride may also produce chlamydospores; Ø Phialides are hyaline, branched, flask – shaped, inflated at the base, solitary or may appear in clusters, and are attached to the conidiophores at right angles; Ø Conidiophores are hyaline, branched, and may occasionally demonstrate a pyramidal arrangement; and Ø Conidia are unicellular, round or ellipsoidal, green in color, smooth walled or rough, with an average diameter of 3 µm, and are grouped in sticky heads at the tips of the phialides, however, these clusters usually get disrupted during slide preparation procedure intended for microscopic examination.
Laboratory Precautions General laboratory precautions are required, no special safety measures needed.
Susceptibility |
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The
mycological information gathered and
A
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