Pure Air Control Services and the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory are pleased to introduce "Under the Scope", a new section of the
IEQ REVIEW. There are over 100,000 species of fungi. Many fungi are good and useful (edible mushrooms would be an example of these) while some cause problems (some fungi can injure plants and humans). Every week the IEQ Review will describe a specific microorganism, its morphological origin and potential health effects. If you would like to know about a specific organism and/or would like it published in The IEQ Review please email Dr. Rajiv Sahay with the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDL) at Pure Air Control Services laboratory@pureaircontrols.comFusarium sppFusarium spp isa 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.
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