Saprophytic Molds Flashcards
considered clinical contaminants
saprophytic molds
dematiaceous
darkly pigmented on top and bottom
what species do you need to be careful working with because spores will fly everywhere and contaminant surfaces
aspergillus species
all aspergillus species have what hyphae
septate
3 characteristics of aspergillus species
- Very long conidiophores that arise off of septate hyphae
- Conidiophores will open up into what is called a vesicle
- Coming off the vesicle is a secondary supporting structure known as phialide; off these will come the conidia
what else may be present at bottom of aspergillus?
foot cell
what is a foot cell
point where the conidiophore attached to the hyphae
what is most common aspergillus?
fumigatus
what is seen on bread, fruits, in the air, in soil, and very commonly seen in nature?
Aspergillus fumigatus
-everyone is exposed to this
-can also be very invasive
how is Aspergillus fumigatus differentiated from other ones in the species?
fumigatus can grow at 42 degrees
-greenish
describe Aspergillus fumigatus phialides?
covering upper 2/3 of vesicles and pointing in upward fashion
Aspergillus niger color
black but not dematiaceous because bottom is white
describe Aspergillus niger philades
all the way around the vesicles
conidia are darkly pigmented
Aspergillus flavus infection
causes pulmonary infections locally and systemic
can produce aflatoxins and is deadly if ingested in large amounts
-common contaminant so be careful eating food
Aspergillus flavus color
top= yellow, green, or browish
reverse= yellowish to brown-red
describe Aspergillus flavus phialides
seen over entire vesicles and point in all directions; not darkly pigmented
what species is linked to endocarditis following surgical implants of valved
penicillium species
what is penicillium confused with
aspergillus due to they look like them macroscopically
penicillium can’t grow above what temp
35 degrees
penicillium hyphae type and micro description
septate hyphae
-no presence of a vesicle
long chains of conidia and phialides (skeleton fingers)
cause of infection in well known contact lens brand
fusarium
infections with cornea
fusarium is linked to food borne illness because
produce a number of toxins with ingesting food contaminated with this
micro description of fusarium
septate hyphae
2 forms on conidia- both macro and micro form
BANANA shape
dematiaceous means
darkly pigmented on top and bottom when growing
and microscopically dark
clinical contaminant in moist area; showers and sinks
Alternaria
-BLACK colored
what causes phaeohyphomycosis
alternaria
-this infection caused by saprophytic or dematiaceous mold
Alternaria microscopically
septate hyphae
as gets older has alternating cross walls- why it has its name
conidia looks like chicken drumsticks !! darkly
names because of curved or boomerang shaped conidia- darkly pigmented
Curvularia
what color is Curvularia
darkly olive-green to black
septate hyphae
produces several toxins that infect both humans and animals
stachybotrys
Stachybotrys can penetrate
and live well in wood, paper, cardboard, and dry wall
-after they are damp
what illness does Stachybotrys cause
“sick building syndrome”
-people can have severe allergic reactions to toxins and organism when exposed
when people have reaction to Stachybotrys what can happen
pulmonary hemorrhage
Stachybotrys microscopically
septate hyphae
long conidiospores
treatment for zygomycetes
remove infected body parts which may or not be possible
main characteristics of zygomycetes
- All produce aseptate hyphae
- Produce spongiospores contained in a sac called sporangium
- Sporangium sits on top of a sporangiophore
- Usually identified by position of their rhizoids or lack of rhizoids
most common zygomycetes
rhizopus
-black bread mold
rhizopus is inhibited by what agar
cycloheximide
what temp can rhizopus grow at
54-58 degrees
how to ID rhizopus
rhizoids are nodal
-arise where sporangiophores come off hyphae
rhizoids are internodal
lichtheimia
ID by lack of rhizoids
mucor
-most deadly
