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 ...

Absidia species
 
Absidia species are cosmopolitan and mainly isolated from soil and decaying vegetation.  However, it is also found in air, swamps, dunes, sewage, caves, plants, bird feathers, compost, foodstuffs, and rabbit dung.  It grows rapidly under laboratory conditions and produces a coarse wooly gray colony with a white reverse on Malt Extract Agar (MEA) within four days, when incubated at 25°C (77°F). 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Some species of this fungus is recognized agent of zygomycosis in human and other warm-blooded animal. Absidia corymbifera identified as a causal organism for zygomycosis and commonly implicated in opportunistic pulmonary invasions, infections of skin, the meninges, and the kidneys. It attacks the lungs, nasal sinuses, and other organs in patients, especially diabetic and immunocompromised patients.