Fusarium
Colonies are usually fast growing, pale or brightly colored (depending on the species) and may or may not have a cottony aerial mycelium. The color of the thallus varies from whitish to yellow, brownish, pink, reddish or lilac shades. Species of Fusarium typically produce both macro- and microconidia from slender phialides. Macroconidia are hyaline, two- to several-celled, fusiform- to sickle-shaped, mostly with an elongated apical cell and pedicellate basal cell. Microconidia are 1- to 2-celled, hyaline, pyriform, fusiform to ovoid, straight or curved. Chlamydoconidia may be present or absent.
Most Fusarium species are soil fungi and have a world-wide distribution. Some are plant pathogens causing root and stem rot, vascular wilt or fruit rot. Other species cause storage rot and are important mycotoxin producers. Several species, notably F. oxysporum, F. solani and F. moniliforme, are recognized as being pathogenic to man and animals causing mycotic keratitis, onychomycosis and hyalohyphomycosis, especially in burn victims and bone marrow transplant patients.
Clinical manifestations of hyalohyphomycosis caused by Fusarium; include cutaneous and subcutaneous infections, endophthalmitis, osteomyelitis, and arthritis following traumatic implantation. Peritonitis has also been reported in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Disseminated infections are similar to disseminated aspergillosis, however fungemia and ulcerated skin lesions are often more pronounced. The typical patient is granulocytopenic and receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics for unexplained fever.
 

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