Scopulariopsis

Most members of the genus Scopulariopsis are soil fungi, which are frequently isolated from food, paper and other materials. They also occur as laboratory contaminants.

Several species have been reported as causative agents of onychomycosis and hyalohyphomycosis (Sandoval-Denis et al. 2013). The most common species seen in the clinical laboratory is S. brevicaulis, followed by S. gracilis S. brumptii, Microascus cinereus, S. candida complex, and M. cirrosus (Sandoval-Denis et al. 2013).

RG-2 for species isolated from humans.

Scopulariopsis morphology

Conidiophores (annellides) and conidia of S. brevicaulis.

Morphological description: 
Colonies are fast growing, varying in colour from white, cream, grey, buff to brown and black, but are predominantly light brown. Microscopic morphology shows chains of single-celled conidia produced in basipetal succession from a specialised conidiogenous cell called an annellide. Once again, the term basocatenate can be used to describe such chains of conidia where the youngest conidium is at the basal end of the chain. InScopulariopsis, annellides may be solitary, in groups, or organised into a distinct penicillus. Conidia are globose to pyriform, usually truncate, with a rounded distal portion, smooth to rough, and hyaline to brown in colour.

Key features: 
Hyphomycete, conidia often shaped like light globes, basocatenate arising from annellides.

Molecular identification: 
D1/D2 and EF-1α sequence analysis can be useful for the identification of the most common clinically relevant species (Sandoval-Denis et al. 2013).

Antifungal susceptibility: Scopulariopsis brevicaulis limited data (Australian national data); MIC µg/mL.  
  No ≤0.016 0.03 0.06 0.125 0.25 0.5 1 2 4 8 16 ≥32
AmB 19           1 1 7 2 8    
ISAV 3               1 1 1    
VORI 19   1     1   2 4 3 8    
POSA 19   1   1 1 1 3 4   8    
ITRA 19   1   1     5 1   11    

References:

  • de Hoog, G.S., Guarro, J., Gene, J., et al. (2015) Atlas of Clinical Fungi (Version 4.1.2). Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
  • Domsch, K.H., Gams, W. and Anderson, T.H. (2007) Compendium of soil fungi. Second Edition, IHW-Verlag, Germany.
  • Kidd, S., Halliday, C., Ellis, D. (2023) Descriptions of Medical Fungi (4th edition). CABI.
  • McGinnis, M.R. (1980) Laboratory handbook of medical mycology. Academic Press, New York.
  • Morton, F.J. and Smith, G. (1963) The genera Scopulariopsis Bainier, Microascus Zukal, and Doratomyces Corda. Mycological Papers, No, 86. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, London.
  • Rippon, J.W. (1988) Medical mycology: the pathogenic fungi and the pathogenic actinomycetes, 3rd edition. W,B. Saunders Co, Philadelphia, USA.
  • Samson, R.A., Hoekstra, E.S., Frisvad, J.C., et al. (1995) Introduction to food-borne fungi. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, P.O.Box 273, 3740 AG BAARN, The Netherlands.
  • Sandoval-Denis, M., Sutton, D.A., Fothergill, A.W., et al. (2013) Scopulariopsis, a poorly known opportunistic fungus: spectrum of species in clinical samples and in vitro responses to antifungal drugs. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 51, 3937-3943.
  • Sandoval-Denis, M, Gene, J., Sutton, D.A., et al. (2016) Redefining Microascus, Scopulariopsis and allied genera. Persoonia, 36, 1-36.

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