Taeniolella rudis/Annellophora
Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects, or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Annellophora species are common, but comprise a small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is related to Taeniolella. In particular, Taeniolella rudis has very similar morphology. The spores of both genera are dark brown and distinctive. Annellophora species have areas of successive proliferations, whereas Taeniolella rudis does not. 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 spore trap samples. These genera do not grow on common laboratory media. Natural habitat includes leaves, and wood. They are sometimes associated with lumber, and can be found indoors on wood, and plants.
Tetraploa
Characteristics: The only reported human infections are two cases of keratitis (1970, 1980) and one case of subcutaneous infection of the knee (1990). No information is available regarding other health effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Tetraploa species comprise a very small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is somewhat related to Triposporium and Diplocladiella. The only reported human infections are two cases of keratitis (1970, 1980) and one case of subcutaneous infection of the knee (1990). No information is available regarding other health effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. Natural habitat includes leaf bases and stems just above the soil on many kinds of plants and trees.
Thysanophora
Characteristics: No information is available regarding health effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Thysanophora species comprise a very small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is related to Penicillium, Phialocephala, and Gliocladium. No information is available regarding health effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. Recorded isolations include soil, leaves of Tsuga, and decaying leaves.
Torula
Characteristics: Type I allergen. Not pathogenic. Considered toxigenic.
Description: It is often found in soil, dead herbaceous stems, wood, grasses, sugar beet root, groundnuts and oats. It is disseminated as a dry spore by the wind. For indoor growth this fungus requires cellulose containing materials such as jute, old sacking, wicker, wood, and paper. 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 any health affects. As a toxigenic agent, it produces torula herbarum, a cytotoxin. Nomenclatural problems: Torula is sometimes confused with the yeast Torulopsis. Torulosis is an old name for cryptococcosis, a disease in humans caused by the yeast Cryptococcus neoformans.
Trichocladium
Characteristics: The only reported human infections are two cases of keratitis (1922, 1965). No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Trichocladium species comprise a small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is somewhat related to Torula. The only reported human infections are two cases of keratitis (1922, 1965). No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. One species in particular, Trichocladium uniseptatum, is found regularly on environmental surfaces, chiefly from wood. This organism does not grow on general fungal laboratory media and has been reported in times past as an “unknown brown spore type.” Recorded isolations of Trichocladium species include soil, wood, tubers of various plants, and pine needles.
Trichoderma
Characteristics: As an allergen, it has been known to cause Type I and Type III allergen symptoms. It is considered pathogenic. It is considered toxigenic.
Description: It is often found in soil, decaying wood, grains, citris fruit, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, paper, textiles, and wood with a blue-green or yellow-green coloration with a tuft-like texture. It is disseminated as dry spore by the wind and also as a wet spore by rain, insects, and water splash. Indoors, growth is most common on paper, tapestry, wood, or unglazed ceramics. As an allergen, it has been known to cause Type I and Type III allergen symptoms including hay fever, asthma, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. As a pathogen it has been known to cause pulmonary infections, peritonitis infection in a liver transplant patient, and is considered an opportunistic pathogen for immunocompromised patients. As a toxigenic agent, it produces tichothecene and cyclic peptides. Trichoderma may cause a mycotoxicosis similar to that caused by Stachybotrys chartarum; some of the metabolic substances produced are closely related to trichothecenes. Trichoderma harzianum pellets have been mixed with ground bark to protect trees and vegetable crops against infections from other plant pathogens. T. viride produces cellulase and hemicellulase used in commercial beer, wine and food processing. It enhances the aroma in tea and mushroom products.
Trichosporon
Characteristics: No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been well studied. Considered pathogenic.
Description: Trichosporon species are common yeast-like fungi whose primary mode of reproduction is the formation of arthrospores and blastospores. The genus Trichosporon should not be identified by microscopic morphology alone because many related and unrelated fungi form arthrospores. Biochemical analysis is necessary for identification. Trichosporon beigelii (old and common name) is the causal organism of superficial infections of hair shafts (white piedra) and nails (onychomycosis). Other health effects of this genus include reports of endocarditis, meningitis, pneumonia, ocular infections and peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis. Disseminated disease is recorded in immunosuppressed hosts. No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been well studied. This genus is cosmopolitan, common in soil, fresh and sea water, and plant detritus. Recorded isolations include garden compost, sewage sludge, intertidal sand, running water, and mud.
Trichothecium
Characteristics: There are no reports of infection in humans or animals. No information is available regarding inhalation effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Trichothecium species are common but comprise a small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is most closely related to Arthrobotrys. There are no reports of infection in humans or animals. No information is available regarding inhalation effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. Found frequently growing on indoor environmental surfaces. Natural habitat includes decaying plant material, roots, seeds, nuts, grasses, twigs, water, and soil. It is a parasite on macrofungi, where it can cover with a pink conidial dust. Formerly called Cephalothecium.
Tritirachium
Characteristics: Health effects include reports of corneal ulcers, and a case of otomycosis. No information is available regarding inhalation effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied.
Description: Tritirachium species are common, but comprise a small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is related to Beauveria and Engyodontium. Health effects include reports of corneal ulcers, and a case of otomycosis. No information is available regarding inhalation effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. Commonly isolated from paper, jute, textiles, adhesives, and gypsum board. Natural habitat is soil and decaying plant material. Also an insect pathogen.
