Saprophytes Flashcards
Hyaline Saprobes “Brush” like
Penicillium
Paecilomyces
Scopulariopsis
Penicillium species Etiology
Keratitis
External ear infection
Endocarditis
Penicillium species colony
Bluish-green w/ white border
Powdery
Reverse: usually white, but could be red or brown
Radial Rugal folds
Penicillium species micro
Spetate hyphae
Branched or unbranched conidiophores
Secondary branches known as metulae
Phialides that bear unbranched chains of smooth spherical conidia
“Brush” appearance
Paecilomyces species Etiology
Keratitis
Corneal Ulcers
Paecilomyces species Colony
Flat, powdery, or velvety
Yellowish brown, sometimes lilac or grey to grey-green color
Reverse: off white to brown
Paecilomyces species Micro
Resembles Penicillium species
Phialides are more elongated and taper into long, slender tube - bowling tenpins
Bend away from axis of conidiophore
Conidia are elliptic or oblong
Scopulariopsis species Etiology
Occasionally associated with nail infections especially with immunocompromised patients
Scopulariopsis species Morph
White and glabrous, then becomes powdery light brown with light tan periphery
Reverse: tan with brownish center
Irregular rugal folds begin from center to periphery
Scopulariopsis species Micro
Septate hyphae
Shorter and simpler conidiophores
Conidia are large, thick-walled, round to lemon shaped
Mature conidia are usually very rough and spiny (echinulate)
Hyaline Saprobes “Clusters”
Acremonium
Fusarium
Gliocladium
Trichderma
Acremonium (Cephalosporium) species Etiology
Mycetomas
Corneal infections
Nail infections (onychomycosis)
Acremonium species Morph
Slow grower (7 days)
Compact, folded, and felt-like then becomes loose, white or various shades of light green and yellow
Cottony hyphae
Reverse: colorless, pale yellow, or pinkish
Acremonium species Micro
Delicate septate hyphae
Erect, unbranched, tapering phialides
Conidia are oblong, one to two celled, forming clusters at tips of phialides
Fusarium species Etiology
Mycotic eye infections
Occasionally involved in skin and nail infections and systemic infections in severely debilitated hosts such as AIDS patients
Fusarium species Morph
Colony white and cottony then develops pink or violet center with lighter periphery. Some species remain white or tan
Reverse: light in color
Fusarium species Micro
Septate hyphae
2 types of sporulation
- 1) Most conidia seen are large, sickle- or canoe-shaped, multiseptate macroconidia produced from phialides on unbranched or branched conidiophores
- 2) Less development of long or short, simple conidiophores bearing small, oval, one- or two- celled conidia singly or in clusters resembling those of Acremonium species.
Gliocladium species Etiology
Not been implicated in pathogenesis
Gliocladium species Morph
Dark green and spreading. Some strains may be pink.
Reverse: white
Gliocladium species Micro
Septate hyphae
Phialides are similar to Penicillium
Conidia are clumped together and form large clusters
Trichoderma species Etiology
Opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised hosts
Trichoderma species Morph
White and fluffy then compact, woolly with green patches
Reverse: colorless or light orange tan to yellow
Trichoderma species Micro
Septate hyphae
Conidiosphores are short and branched at wide angles
Phialides are flask shaped
Conidia are round, single-celled, and clustered together
Hyaline Saprobes Single Conidia
Sepedonium
Chrysosporium
Beauveria
Sepedonium species Etiology
Considered a contaminant
Sepedonium species Morph
First white and waxy, then fluffy and yellow
Reverse: White