Scedosporium
Characteristics: Allergenicity has not been well studied. Considered pathogenic. No information is available regarding toxicity.
Description: Scedosporium species comprise a small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is distantly related to Sporothrix, Exophiala, and Scopulariopsis. Two species have health effects which can be serious, even fatal: Scedosporium apiospermum and Scedosporium prolificans. These organisms have a surplus of past names. S. apiospermum was formerly called Monosporium apiospermum, while S. prolificans was formerly called S. inflatum. In addition, the sexual phase of S. apiospermum, now called Pseudallescheria boydii, has been called Allescheria boydii and Petriellidium boydii. To confuse things even further, S. apiospermum has yet another asexual coremial form called Graphium eumorphum, syn. Graphium fructicola, but is usually reported as the “Graphium state of Scedosporium apiospermum.” Health effects are many, particularly with regard to Scedosporium apiospermum. There have been many reports of opportunistic infections, including white grain mycetoma which occurs world-wide. Other systemic infections may involved the central nervous system, usually after severe local trauma or after aspiration of polluted water. In addition, this organism may cause an invasive sinusitis, pneumonia, or allergic reactions in the lungs. Ophthalmic cases have been reported. What makes these infections very serious is the fact that this organism is very resistant to most of the antifungal medications available. Scedosporium prolificans has been associated with subcutaneous lesions after trauma with thorns or splinters. In immunocompromised patients or transplantation patients fatal dissemination may occur. Fortunately, these organisms are infrequently found growing on environmental surfaces. No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been well studied. Natural habitat includes soil, polluted water, and manure.
Schizophyllum Commune
Characteristics: No information is available regarding toxicity and allergenicity has not been well studied.
Description: Schizophyllum commune is a macrofungus, commonly called the “Split-Gill.” It has been found growing on a variety of domestic materials, including plaster. These small bracket-like fungi are whitish, hairy, with tough leathery flesh. They may remain dry for 50 years and when moistened will unroll their gills and begin shedding spores. Adverse health effects are rare but cases of the following in have been reported: brain abscess (1996), fungus ball in the lungs (1995), sinusitis (1992, 1990, 1986, 1956), allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (1994), ulcerative lesions of the hard palate (1973), chronic lung disease (1956), meningitis (1955), and onychomycosis (1950). No information is available regarding toxicity and allergenicity has not been well studied. In addition, this is one of the few macrofungi that grow and fruit on general fungal media. Natural outdoor habitat of this fungus is hardwood sticks, stumps, and logs, with a worldwide distribution. Photographs of this fungus are available in the book Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora, available at most local bookstores.
Scolecobasidium
Characteristics: Allergenicity has not been studied. Possibly a pathogen. No information about toxicity.
Description: Scolecobasidium species comprise a very small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is distantly related to Ochroconis and Dactylaria. Opinions differ regarding the taxonomy of these three genera and are considered by many to be synonyms. All three genera are listed in Ainsworth & Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi as legitimate genera. There have been several reports of opportunistic infections caused by these genera but a true pathogenic role has not been firmly established. No information is available regarding upper respiratory 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) samples. Certain species of Scolecobasidium have somewhat distinctive spores which could be counted on spore trap samples if the presence of this genus has already been demonstrated (for example, on tape lifts). Natural habitat includes soil and decaying leaves.
Scopulariopsis
Characteristics: Allergenicity has not been studied. Possibly a pathogen. No information about toxicity.
Description: Scopulariopsis is a large genus comprising mainly soil species. Species are frequently isolated from food and building materials such as drywall paper and wood. This fungus has relatively high water activity similar to Stachybotrys. Very little is known about the health effects of this fungus. Certain species may be involved in human onychomycoses or pulmonary mycoses. Scopulariopsis has been recovered from culturable air, spore trap, and dust samples. Rarely a cause of human infection. Onychomycosis is occasionally reported, while reports of subcutaneous and pulmonary infection are rare, and primarily concern the immunocompromised host.Its Teleomorph, Microascus, has also been recovered from indoor building material. Moderately rapid growth; texture velvety to powdery.
Sepedonium
Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects, or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Sepedonium species are common but comprise a small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is somewhat related to Chrysosporium and Staphylotrichum. It also bears a superficial resemblance to Histoplasma capsulatum, an important pathogen found primarily in the midwestern United States. May be identified on surfaces by tape lifts, tease mounts from bulk samples, and in air by culturable (Andersen) and spore trap samples. (Spores have distinctive morphology.) Natural habitat is soil, coniferous wood, and mushroom compost. Commonly parasitic on mushrooms in the Agaricaceae and Boletaceae as well.
Septonema
Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects, or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Septonema species comprise a very small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is somewhat related to Cladosporium. No information is available regarding health effects, or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. May be identified on surfaces by tape lifts, and tease mounts from bulk samples. Septonema has somewhat distinctive spores which could be counted on spore trap samples if the presence of this genus has already been demonstrated (for example, on tape lifts). Commonly found on the bark of deciduous or coniferous trees as well as on other fungi, particularly the Pyrenomycetes. Less commonly found in soil and buried root pieces.
Serpula
Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects, or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Serpula lacrimans (formerly called Merulius) is one of the basidiomycetes which causes brown rot of wood (dry rot). This fungus is most closely related to Poria and other wood rotting polypores. These fungi can digest the cellulose components of wood. A small amount of decay markedly alters the strength of the wood. If the macroscopic fungus fruiting body is collected, it may be identified as a polypore (bracket fungus). The polypores belong to a limited group of fungi capable of attacking wood and using it for food. Wood with brown rot can be identified by observation of typical squarish cracking transverse to the grain of the wood. The wood also shrinks and becomes some shade of brown. The other general type of wood decay is called white rot, where all components (cellulose and lignin) are removed in differing proportions at different rates, and the decayed wood is light-colored. The strength factor is more slowly altered, and frequently the decayed wood is still usable in the early stages of decay. The natural habitat of the polypores is wood, i.e., slash in forests. No information is available regarding health effects, or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Smuts, Periconia, Myxomycetes
Smuts
Characteristics: Type I allergies (hay fever, asthma). Not considered pathogenic. Not known to be toxigenic.
Description: It is often found on cereal crops, grasses, weeds, other fungi, and flowering plants with a brownish coloration. It is disseminated as a dry spore by the wind. They are parasitic plant pathogens that require a living host, so growth indoors on building materials is rare. As an allergen, it has been known to cause Type I allergen symptoms including hay fever and asthma. As a pathogen it has not been known to cause human infection. It is not considered a toxigenic agent.
Periconia
Characteristics: Allergenicity has not been studied. Rarely considered pathogenic. Not considered toxigenic.
Description: It is often found in soil, blackened and dead herbaceous stems and leaf spots, grasses, rushes, and sedges. It is disseminated as a dry spore by the wind. This fungus is rarely found growing indoors. As an allergen, it has not been studied. As a rare pathogen it has been known to cause a case of mycotic keratitis. It is not considered a toxigenic agent.
Myxomycetes
Characteristics: Considered a type I allergen. Not considered a human pathogen. Not considered a toxigenic agent.
Description: It is often found in decaying logs, stumps, and dead leaves particularly in forested regions. It is disseminated as a dry spore by the wind. As an allergen, it has been known to cause type I allergen symptoms including hay fever and asthma. It is not considered a human pathogen. It is not considered a toxigenic agent. Myxomycetes are not considered true fungi. These organisms have both dry and wet spores. Wind disperses the dry fruiting body spores, whereas the wet amoebic phase is motile. The myxomycetes have an interesting life cycle which includes a wet spore phase and a dry spore phase. When conditions are favorable, they move about like amoebae, resembling primitive animals. When conditions are not favorable they form a resting body (sclerotium) with dry, airborne spores. While a few are distinctive, many of the myxomycete spores are difficult to distinguish from the smuts. These spores are placed in our group “smuts, myxomycetes, Periconia,” due to their similar “round, brown” morphology.
Sordaria
Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Sordaria species are common but comprise a small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is most closely related to other perithecial forming ascomycetes such as Gelasinospora and Melanospora. No information is available regarding health effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. Natural habitat is mainly on dung, but found also on seeds and in soil.
Spadicoides
Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Spadicoides species comprise a very small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is somewhat related to Diplococcium and Cephaliophora. No information is available regarding health effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. Natural habitat includes dead wood and bark of various trees including birch, pine, oak, beech, and elm.
Spegazzinia
Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Spegazzinia species comprise a very small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is somewhat related to other lobed or ornamented genera such as Candelabrum. Usually identified on spore trap samples where it is seen every few weeks. (Spores have very distinctive morphology.) May also be found in air by culturable (Andersen) samples if a long enough incubation period is provided so that sporulation occurs. Natural habitat includes soil and many kinds of trees and plants.
Spiniger State of Heterobasidion Species
Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects, or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Spiniger species comprise a very small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is interesting because it is a conidial state of a macrofungus, a polypore called Heterobasidion. (Polypores are bracket fungi usually seen on dead or dying logs in the forest.) 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.)
Sporidesmium
Characteristics: No data or information on human health effects or allergenicity studies were located.
Description: There are roughly 40 good species known for the genus Sporidesmium according to Index Fungorum. It appears to be mostly saprophytic, as many occur on woody plant parts, dead twigs and branches, and a few occur on leaves and less woody portions of plants. It’s also known to occur as a parasite on other fungi (ie. Sclerotinia), and is also reported and can occur on lichens. This fungus is a dematiacous hyphomycete so reproduces asexually. A few species are similar in overall morphology to Dreschlera/Bipolaris. The conidia (spores) are solitary, simple, and shaped either straight, curved, cylindrical, sigmoid, fusiform or obclavate. The color range can be almost colorless to dark brown, olive brown or reddish brown. The spore surface can be smooth or warty and is transversely septate or appearing so. Overall it is quite heterogeneous and recent molecular phylogenetic studies are also resulting in similar conclusions. More research needs to be done to determine the true relations in this group.
Sporobolomyces
Characteristics: Type I and III allergen. Possible pathogen. Not known to be a toxigenic agent.
Description: It is often found on tree leaves, soil, rotting fruit, and other plant materials with a peach, pink, or salmon coloration. It is disseminated as a wet by a discharge mechanism in times of high humidity. For indoor growth this fungus requires very wet conditions. As an allergen, it has been known to cause Type I and Type III allergen symptoms. As a pathogen it has been known to cause dermatitis. It is not known to be a toxigenic agent.
Sporormiella
Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Sporormiella species are common but comprise a small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is most closely related to other multicelled dark spored ascomycetes such as Preussia and Hysterium. 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). Our laboratory has found this organism growing in fiberglass insulation. Natural habitat is mainly on dung of various animals.
Sporothrix
Characteristics: No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Sporothrix species comprise a small proportion of the fungal biota and are most closely related to other colorless hyphomycetes such as Beauveria, Nodulisporium and Calcarisporium. One species, Sporothrix schenckii, is a cause of a subcutaneous infection called sporotrichosis which develops characteristic lesions at regional lymph nodes. The fungus occurs in soil, wet or damp wood and the disease develops in humans most commonly after puncture by thorns or splinters. This genus is rarely found on environmental surfaces Natural habitat includes various substrates in contact with soil, such as plant litter, bark, straw and living plants. Sporothrix schenckii is particularly common on the wood of conifers and Eucalyptus, with other recorded isolations from sphagnum moss and timber. No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Sporotrichum
Characteristics: No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. Rarely a pathogen.
Description: Sporotrichum species comprise a very small proportion of the fungal biota and are most closely related to other colorless hyphomycetes such as Chrysosporium. The only information available regarding health effects are a few rare cases of repeated isolations from respiratory secretions suggestive of bronchopulmonary colonization. No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. Natural habitat includes soil and decaying wood.
Stachybotrys
Characteristics: Allergenicity not well studied, but often considered a Type I allergen. Not considered pathogenic. Considered toxigenic.
Description: It is often found in soil, decaying plant substrates, decomposing cellulose, leaf litter, and seeds. It’s growth is not influenced by soil pH or copper, and is enhanced by manure. It is disseminated as a dry spore by the wind and also as a wet spore by insects and water splash. It is a slow growing fungus on media. It does not compete well with other rapidly growing fungi. For indoor growth this fungus requires high water availability for a prolonged period of time. Indoors, it is usually seen growing on cellulose containing materials such as wallboard, jute, wicker, straw, baskets, and other paper materials. The dark colored fungi grows on building material with high cellulose content and low nitrogen content. As an allergen, it has not been well studied, but Type I allergen symptoms have been attributed to it. It is not considered a pathogen. As a toxigenic agent, it produces Macrocyclic trichothecenes which include verrucarin J, roridin E, satratoxin F, G & H, sporidesmin G, trichoverrol; cyclosporins, stachybotryolactone. These toxins can produce a condition known as Stachybotrys mycotoxicosis. It is characterized by dermatitis, cough, rhinitis, itching or burning sensation in mouth, throat, nasal passages and eyes. The best described toxicoses are from domestic animals that have eaten contaminated hay and straw or inhaled infected material from contaminated bedding. Many human reports of Stachybotrys toxicosis are anecdotal. Stachybotrys mycotoxicosis is currently the subject of toxin research. Areas subject to temperature fluctuations with relative humidity above 55% are ideal for toxin production. The spores will die readily after release. The dead spores are still allergenic and toxigenic. Individuals with chronic exposure to the toxin produced by the fungus reported cold and flu symptoms, sore throats, diarrhea, headaches, fatigue, dermatitis, intermittent local hair loss and generalized malaise. The toxins produced by the fungus will suppress the immune system affecting the lymphoid tissue and the bone marrow. Animals injected with the toxin from the fungus exhibited the following symptoms: necrosis and hemorrhage within the brain, thymus, spleen, intestine, lung, heart, lymph node, liver and kidney. Affects by absorption of the toxin in the human lung are known as pneumomycosis. Cutaneous absorption has caused mild symptoms.
Stemphylium
Characteristics: Type I allergen. Rare pathogen. Not considered toxigenic.
Description: It is often found in soil, wood, decaying vegetation, or on leaves as plant pathogens. It is disseminated as a dry spore by the wind. Indoor growth is rare. As an allergen, it has been known to cause Type I allergen symptoms. As a rare pathogen it has been known to cause phaeohyphomycotic sinusitis. It is not considered a toxigenic agent.
Stephanosporium
Characteristics: As to health effects, one isolation from a case of neurodermitis nuchae in 1969 exists for Oidiodendron cerealis/Stephanosporium cereale. No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Oidiodendron cerealis is quite distinct from other Oidiodendron species and is placed in a separate genus Stephanosporium by some taxonomists. As to health effects, one isolation from a case of neurodermitis nuchae in 1969 exists for Oidiodendron cerealis/Stephanosporium cereale, with no reports for other Oidiodendron species. No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. Natural habitat includes soil, litter, wood, and bark. Stephanosporium cereale has been isolated from air, paper, soil, and textiles.
Syncephalastrum Racemosum
Characteristics: This organism is widely regarded as being nonpathogenic to humans, with only a single case of a cutaneous infection reported (1980). No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Syncephalastrum racemosum (monotypic) is common but comprises a small proportion of the fungal biota. This organism is widely regarded as being nonpathogenic to humans, with only a single case of a cutaneous infection reported (1980). No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. Recorded isolations are from dung and soil, primarily in tropical and subtropical areas.
