Phaeoacremonium parasiticum

Cultures are usually slow growing, suede-like with radial furrows, initially whitish-grey becoming olivaceous-grey with age. Hyphae hyaline, later becoming brown and some becoming rough-walled. Phialides are brown, thick-walled, slender, acular to cylindrical slightly tapering towards the tip, 15-50 μm long, often proliferating, with small, funnel-shaped collarettes. Conidia, often in balls, are hyaline, thin-walled, cylindrical to sausage-shaped, 3-6 x 1-2 μm, later inflating (de Hoog et al. 2000). RG-2 organism.

Colony, phialides and conidia of Phaeoacremonium parasiticum.

MIC data is limited.  Antifungal susceptibility testing of individual strains is recommended.

Clinical significance:

P. parasiticum is a plant pathogen but it has also been reported from cases of subcutaneous infection, arthritis, mycetoma, endocarditis and mycotic keratitis.

Mycosis: Phaeohyphomycosis

Further reading:

Domsch, K.H., W. Gams, and T.H. Anderson. 1980. Compendium of soil fungi. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK.

Rippon, J.W. 1988. Medical Mycology. 3rd Edition. W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, USA.