''Chrysosporium'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of hyaline
hyphomycetes
Hyphomycetes are a form classification of fungi, part of what has often been referred to as fungi imperfecti, Deuteromycota, or anamorphic fungi. Hyphomycetes lack closed fruit bodies, and are often referred to as moulds (or molds). Most hypho ...
fungi
A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...
in the family
Onygenaceae
The Onygenaceae are a family of fungi in the Ascomycota
Ascomycota is a phylum of the kingdom Fungi that, together with the Basidiomycota, forms the subkingdom Dikarya. Its members are commonly known as the sac fungi or ascomycetes. It is the ...
.
''Chrysosporium'' colonies are moderately fast-growing, flat, white to tan to beige in color; they often have a powdery or
granular
Granularity (also called graininess) is the degree to which a material or system is composed of distinction (philosophy), distinguishable pieces, granular material, "granules" or grain, "grains" (metaphorically).
It can either refer to the exten ...
surface texture.
Hyaline
A hyaline substance is one with a glassy appearance. The word is derived from , and .
Histopathology
Hyaline cartilage is named after its glassy appearance on fresh gross pathology. On light microscopy of H&E stained slides, the extracellula ...
, one-celled (
ameroconidia) are produced directly on vegetative
hyphae
A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium.
Structure
A hypha consists of one o ...
by non-specialized
conidiogenous cells. Conidia are typically
pyriform
Piriform, sometimes ''pyriform'', means pear-shaped (from Latin ''pirum'' "pear" and ''forma'' "shape").
It may also refer to:
Anatomy
* Piriform aperture, more commonly known as anterior nasal aperture
* Piriform cortex, a region in the brai ...
to
clavate
This glossary of entomology describes terms used in the formal study of insect species by entomology, entomologists.
A–C
A synthetic chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide, toxic to vertebr ...
with
truncate
In mathematics and computer science, truncation is limiting the number of digits right of the decimal point.
Truncation and floor function
Truncation of positive real numbers can be done using the floor function. Given a number x \in \mathbb ...
bases (6 to 7 by 3.5 to 4 um) and are formed either
intercalary
Intercalation may refer to:
*Intercalation (chemistry), insertion of a molecule (or ion) into layered solids such as graphite
*Intercalation (timekeeping), insertion of a leap day, week or month into some calendar years to make the calendar follo ...
(
arthroconidia
Arthroconidia are a type of fungal spore typically produced by segmentation of pre-existing fungal hyphae. Background
These spores are asexual and are generally not as durable and environmentally persistent as, for instance, bacterial endospores o ...
), laterally (often on
pedicels
In botany, a pedicel is a stem that attaches a single flower to the inflorescence
In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branch ...
), or terminally.
__TOC__
Clinical significance
Species of ''Chrysosporium'' are occasionally isolated from skin and nail scrapings, especially from feet, but, because they are common soil
saprotrophs, they are usually considered as contaminants. There are about 22 species of Chrysosporium, several are
keratinophilic with some also being
thermotolerant, and cultures may closely resemble some
dermatophytes
Dermatophyte (from Greek '' derma'' "skin" ( GEN ''dermatos'') and ''phyton'' "plant") is a common label for a group of fungus of '' Arthrodermataceae'' that commonly causes skin disease in animals and humans. Traditionally, these anamorphic ( ...
, especially ''
Trichophyton mentagrophytes
''Trichophyton mentagrophytes'' is a species in the fungal genus '' Trichophyton''. It is one of three common fungi which cause ringworm in companion animals. It is also the second-most commonly isolated fungus causing tinea infections in human ...
'', and some strains may also resemble cultures of
Histoplasma
''Histoplasma'' is a genus of fungi in the order Onygenales. Species are known human pathogens producing yeast-like states under pathogenic conditions. They are the causative agents of histoplasmosis in humans and epizootic lymphangitis in hors ...
and
Blastomyces
''Blastomyces'' is a genus of fungi in the order Onygenales. Species are known human pathogens and show thermal dimorphism, converting from hyphal states under saprobic conditions to yeast-like states under pathogenic conditions. They are the c ...
''Chrysosporium'' has been identified as an
emerging infectious disease
An emerging infectious disease (EID) refer to infectious diseases that have either newly appeared in a population or have existed but are rapidly increasing in incidence, geographic range, or severity due to factors such as environmental change ...
, first in Canada affecting
reptile
Reptiles, as commonly defined, are a group of tetrapods with an ectothermic metabolism and Amniotic egg, amniotic development. Living traditional reptiles comprise four Order (biology), orders: Testudines, Crocodilia, Squamata, and Rhynchocepha ...
s at around 1995.
It infected eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (
Sistrurus catenatus catenatus).
By 2011, it had affected northern copperheads (
Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen),
timber rattlesnake
The timber rattlesnake (''Crotalus horridus''), also known Common name, commonly as the canebrake rattlesnake and the banded rattlesnake,Albert Hazen WWright AH, species:Anna Allen WWright AA (1957). ''Handbook of Snakes of the United States a ...
s,
black rat snake Black rat snake may refer to:
*'' Pantherophis alleghaniensis'', the eastern ratsnake
* '' Pantherophis spiloides'', the central ratsnake
*'' Pantherophis obsoletus'', the western ratsnake
{{Short pages monitor