Emericella
Characteristics: Allergenicity, health effects, and toxicity are similar to that of Aspergillus. Allergen Type I and Type III also considered to be pathogenic and toxigenic.
Description: Emericella species are the sexual states of Aspergillus species, notably the Aspergillus nidulans group among others. Emericella is common and is most closely related to Eurotium, another genus with Aspergillus anamorphs. Emericella is likely to be present along with related Aspergilli if growth has been long term and the nutrients of the substrate are conducive for the conversion to sexual phase. Health effects, allergenicity, and toxicity of Emericella are closely related to the Aspergillus anamorph and, for the most part, have not been studied apart from that primary phase. May be identified on surfaces by tape lifts, tease mounts from bulk samples, and in air on spore trap samples. (Spores have distinctive morphology.) If Emericella spores are isolated on culturable (Andersen) sampling, the Aspergillus anamorph is likely to be the identifiable result, at least with primary growth within one week. Natural habitat includes soil, seeds, and vegetable matter.
Emericellopsis
Characterisitics: No information is available regarding health effects, or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Emericellopsis species are the sexual states of Acremonium species. Emericellopsis is most closely related to Eurotium and Emericella, other genera forming cleistothecia (closed, round sexual fruiting bodies). No information is available regarding health effects, or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. May be identified on surfaces by tape lifts, tease mounts from bulk samples, and in air on spore trap samples. (Spores have distinctive morphology.) If Emericellopsis spores are isolated on culturable (Andersen) sampling, the Acremonium anamorph is likely to be the identifiable result, at least with primary growth within one week. Natural habitat is soil.
Engydontium
Characteristics: Allergenicity has not been studied. No information is a available reguarding toxicity. Health effects have been known to include keratitis, brain abscess, eczema vesiculosum, and native valve endocarditis.
Description: Engyodontium species are common, but comprise a small proportion of the fungal biota. This very delicate genus is related to Beauveria and Tritirachium. Health effects of Engyodontium album include reports of keratitis, brain abscess, eczema vesiculosum, and native valve endocarditis. No information is available regarding toxicity, and allergenicity has not been studied. Identified in air by culturable (Andersen) sampling. Spores are not distinctive on spore trap samples and are categorized as “other colorless.” Fresh growth is possibly identifiable on tape lifts, but optical resolution through tape is sometimes inadequate for the very small structures of Engyodontium. Commonly isolated from paper, jute, textiles, and painted walls.
Epicoccum
Characteristics: Common type I allergen, no reported cases of pathogenic characteristics, and produces toxigenic antibiotic substances including flavipin, epicorazine A & B, and indole-3-acetonitrile.
Description: It is often found in plant debris and soil typically with an orange reverse pigment. It is disseminated as a dry spore by the wind or released by hygroscopic movement. For indoor growth this fungus is usually found on many different substrates including, but not limited to, paper, textiles, and insects. As an allergen, it has been known to cause type I allergen symptoms including asthma and hay fever. It is not known to be a pathogen. As a toxigenic agent, it produces antibiotic substances including flavipin, epicorazine A & B, and indole-3-acetonitrile.
Erysiphe
Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Erysiphe species are plant pathogens, one of the genera causing powdery mildews. Erysiphe is very common and is an obligate parasite on leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits of living higher plants. No information is available regarding health effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. The asexual phase Oidium may be identified in air on spore trap samples, (spores have distinctive morphology), although because obligate parasites cannot grow on non living environmental surfaces, our laboratory does not include Erysiphe on our spore trap report form. The asexual spores are also seen in dust as part of the normal influx of outdoor microbial particles.
Eurotium
Characteristics: Health effects, allergenicity, and toxicity of Eurotium are closely related to the Aspergillus anamorph and, for the most part, have not been studied apart from that primary phase.
Description: Eurotium species are the sexual states of Aspergillus species, notably the Aspergillus glaucus group among others. Eurotium is common and is most closely related to Emericella, another genus with Aspergillus anamorphs. Eurotium is likely to be present along with related Aspergilli if growth has been long term and the nutrients of the substrate are conducive for the conversion to sexual phase. Health effects, allergenicity, and toxicity of Eurotium are closely related to the Aspergillus anamorph and, for the most part, have not been studied apart from that primary phase. May be identified on surfaces by tape lifts, tease mounts from bulk samples, and in air on spore trap samples. (Spores have distinctive morphology.) If Eurotium spores are isolated on culturable (Andersen) sampling, the Aspergillus anamorph is likely to be the identifiable result, at least with primary growth within one week. Occurs on substrates low in moisture (xerophilic); very common in stored seeds, grows also on textiles, leather, and materials coated with resins and lacquers, such as furniture.
Exophiala
Characteristics: Health effects include occasional mycetomas, chromoblastomycosis, and other subcutaneous lesions. No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Exophiala species are common, and are closely related to Wangiella and Phialophora. On primary isolation, this genus may exhibit a black yeast phase, making identification a little more complex. Health effects include occasional mycetomas, chromoblastomycosis, and other subcutaneous lesions. No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. May be identified on surfaces by tape lifts, tease mounts from bulk samples, and in air by culturable (Andersen) sampling. (Spores do not have distinctive morphology and would be categorized as “other colorless” on spore trap samples.) Widespread distribution in decaying wood, soil, and water (especially surfaces in contact with cool, fresh water).
Exserohilum
Characteristics: Common allergen Type I, occasional pathogen, not known to be toxigenic.
Description: Exserohilum species are common, and are most closely related to Drechslera and Bipolaris. Our laboratory does not separate Bipolaris, Drechslera, and Exserohilum species. The only morphological difference between Bipolaris and Drechslera is that Drechslera spores germinate from all cells (of the spore) and Bipolaris germinates only from polar cells. Exserohilum spores have an inner cup-like structure which is visible in the basal cell. As an allergen, it has been known to cause Type I symptoms of hay fever and asthma. As a pathogen, it has been rarely known to cause phaeohyphomycosis (keratitis, sinusitis, and osteomyelitis) most often occurring in immunocompromised persons, although infections also occur in normal hosts. One case of brain abscess reported in an immunocompromised patient. It is not considered a toxigenic agent.
