Aspergillus

Aspergillus caesiellus
Aspergillus candidus
Aspergillus carneus
Aspergillus clavatus
Aspergillus deflectus
Aspergillus flavus
Aspergillus fumigatus
Aspergillus glaucus
Aspergillus nidulans
Aspergillus niger
Aspergillus ochraceus
Aspergillus oryzae
Aspergillus parasiticus
Aspergillus penicilloides
Aspergillus restrictus
Aspergillus sydowi
Aspergillus terreus
Aspergillus ustus
Aspergillus versicolor

Aspergillus is a genus of around 200 fungi (moulds) found worldwide.

Fungi can be divided into two basic morphological forms, yeasts and hyphae. Aspergillus is a filamentous fungus (made of chains of cells, called hyphae) as opposed to yeast which is round single celled. Its natural habitat is in hay and compost.

In 1729 Aspergillus was first catalogued by an Italian priest and biologist P Micheli . In studying the shape of the fungus, he was reminded of an aspergillum , an instrument used for the dispersion of holy water, thus the name.

Pathogens

Some Aspergillus species cause serious disease in humans and animals, and can be pathogenic. The most common causing invasive disease are Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. The most common causing allergic disease are Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus clavatus.

Aspergillosis

Aspergillosis is the groups of diseases caused by Aspergillus. The symptons include fever, cough, chest pain or breathlessness, which also occur in many other illnesses so diagnosis can be hard. Usually, only patients with already weakened immnune systems or who suffer other lung conditions are susceptible.

In man, the major forms of disease are:

1. Allergic aspergillosis (affects asthma, cystic fibrosis and sinusitis patiens).
2. Acute invasive aspergillosis (risk increases if patient has weakened immunity such as some cancer patients and those in chemotherapy).
3. Disseminated invasive aspergillosis (widespread trough body).

See also: mycotoxin, sick building syndrome (SBS).

External links

• Fungi and Aspergillus.
• ASPERGILLUS SURVEILLANCE PROJECT AT A LARGE TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL (PDF).