Fusarium spp
contributed by:
Pure Air Control Services
Environmental Diagnostics Laboraotory
Clearwater, FL

Fusarium spp is a filamentous fungus widely distributed on plants and in the soil. A rapidly growing fungus that produces a pale or bright colored colony within four days, when incubated at 25C (77F).  It is found worldwide and is commonly isolated from  plants, soil, caves, salt marshes, mangrove mud, insects, gerbils, bird feathers, water, wooden furniture, and wood pulp.  The genus Fusarium currently contains over 20 species. The most common of these are Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium chlamydosporum

Health Affects:

Fusarium spp. can produce the mycotoxin trichothecene which can cause disease in humans and animals.  Trichothecene targets the circulatory, alimentary, skin, and nervous systems.  It can be an opportunistic human pathogen causing eye and wound infections.As well as being common plant pathogens, Fusarium spp. are causative agents of superficial and systemic infections in humans. Infections due to Fusarium spp. are collectively referred to as fusariosis. The most virulent Fusarium spp. is Fusarium solani. Trauma is the major predisposing factor for development of cutaneous infections due to Fusarium strains. Disseminated opportunistic infections, on the other hand, develop in immunosuppressed hosts, particularly in neutropenic and transplant patients.