Neosartorya
Characteristics: Reports of illness include pulmonary infection, endocarditis, and osteomylelitis. Health effects (for the most part), allergenicity, and toxicity of Neosartorya are closely related to the Aspergillus anamorph and have rarely been studied apart from that primary phase. Aspergillus, as an allergen, has been known to cause Type I (hay fever, asthma), and Type III (hypersensitivity pneumonitis: Humidifier lung, Malt worker’s lung, Compost lung, Wood trimmer’s disease, Straw hypersensitivity, Farmer’s lung, Oat grain hypersensitivity, fumigatus: allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), and allergenic fungal sinusitis) symptoms. As a pathogen, it has been known to cause respiratory, invasive, cutaneous, ear, and corneal disease including fumigatus (fungus ball), flavus (nasal sinus lesions), and niger (“swimmer’s ear”). As a toxigenic agent, it produces flavus, fumigatus, niger, usutus, and versicolor causing agents as well as many others.
Description: Neosartorya species are the sexual states of Aspergillus species, notably the Aspergillus fumigatus group among others. Neosartorya is common and is most closely related to Emericella, another genus with Aspergillus anamorphs. Neosartorya 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. Reports of illness include pulmonary infection, endocarditis, and osteomylelitis. Health effects (for the most part), allergenicity, and toxicity of Neosartorya are closely related to the Aspergillus anamorph and have rarely been studied apart from that primary phase. May be identified on surfaces by tape lifts, and tease mounts from bulk samples, especially if the Aspergillus anamorph is present. If Neosartorya 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. Spores have somewhat distinctive morphology but would most probably be called “ascospores” on spore trap samples. Natural habitat is soil.
Nigrospora
Characteristics: Allergen Type I. Rare Pathogen. Not known to be a toxigenic agent.
Description: It is often found in decaying plant material and soil with a white coloration with a wooly tuft or long, soft, hairy texture, that over time turns to a black spore cluster. It is disseminated through active discharge and does not require wind or rain. This fungus is rarely found indoors. As an allergen, it has been known to cause Type I allergy symptoms including hay fever and asthma. Rarely considered a pathogen, it has been known to cause infections. It is not considered to be a toxigenic agent.
Nodulisporium
Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects, or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Nodulisporium species comprise a small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is most closely related to Geniculosporium, Hansfordia, and Calcarisporium. 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 by culturable (Andersen) sampling. (Spores do not have distinctive morphology and would be categorized as “other colorless” on spore trap samples.) Natural habitat includes soil and dead stems of trees and herbaceous plants, especially dead wood in the tropics.
