Under the Scope
by Dr. Rajiv Sahay
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.com.
This week we will cover...
Helminthosporium spp.
Helminthosporium spp. were once reported to be among causative agents of phaehyphomycosis. However, it has later been accepted that these isolates were once erroneously identified as Helminthosporium and were in fact strains belonging to the genera of Bipolaris and Exserohilum. Helminthosporium is rarely isolated in the laboratory and appears as a contaminant with no proven pathogenicity for humans or animals. Helminthosporium colonies grow rapidly and mature in about 5 days. The texture is velvety to wooly. The color is olive green to black from the front and black from the reverse.
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
|
