Invasive sino-orbital mycosis in an aplastic anemia patient caused by Neosartorya laciniosa.

We report the first case of Neosartorya laciniosa invasive sinusitis involving the orbit in an immunocompromised male with aplastic anemia. Treatment included surgical debridement with enucleation of the eye and combination voriconazole and micafungin therapy followed by voriconazole alone. The fungus was identified using sequencing of partial benA and calmodulin genes.

Invasive Myceliophthora thermophila infection mimicking invasive aspergillosis in a neutropenic patient: a new cause of cross-reactivity with the Aspergillus galactomannan serum antigen assay.

Myceliophthora thermophila is a thermophilic mould widely found in the environment but rarely responsible for human infections. We describe a case of invasive Myceliophthora thermophila infection mimicking invasive aspergillosis in a neutropenic patient with haematological malignancy. Cross-reactivity with Aspergillus galactomannan assay (GM) was demonstrated by repeated positive results and confirmed by cross-reaction between the fungal isolate and the GM assay. The patient was successfully treated with voriconazole. Potential GM cross-reactivity must be considered in future studies including patients categorized as having probable invasive aspergillosis using the GM as the only mycological criterion.

Xylogone ganodermophthora sp. nov., an ascomycetous pathogen causing yellow rot on cultivated mushroom Ganoderma lucidum in Korea.

Yellow rot, caused by an ascomycetous fungus having a distinctive arthroconidial anamorph, is the most destructive disease of cultivated Ganoderma lucidum in Korea, but the identity of the yellow rot pathogen (YRP) remains uncertain. Isolates have been identified as Xylogone sphaerospora (with putative anamorph Sporendonema purpurascens) or as Arthrographis cuboidea. Therefore we used morphological features, pathogenicity tests and phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences from the nuclear ribosomal genes, including partial small subunit and internal transcribed spacer regions, and from the gene encoding RNA polymerase second largest subunit to evaluate the relationship between YRP isolates and these species. YRP isolates formed a distinct subgroup within a clade that included X. sphaerospora, A. cuboidea and Scytalidium lignicola, the type species of Scytalidium, but the disposition of the clade within the Leotiomycetes was uncertain. We describe Xylogone ganodermophthora sp. nov. and Scytalidium ganodermophthorum sp. nov. for the teleomorph and anamorph of YRP respectively. Arthrographis cuboidea is reclassified as Scytalidium cuboideum comb. nov., and the anamorph of X. sphaerospora is named Scytalidium sphaerosporum sp. nov. In pathogenicity tests only X. ganodermophthora caused disease in Ganoderma lucidum. Amplified fragment length polymorphism analyses showed that X. ganodermophthora populations from diseased fruiting bodies or from oak wood in Korea consisted of two clonal groups.

Disseminated mycosis in veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) caused by Chamaeleomyces granulomatis, a new fungus related to Paecilomyces viridis.

An outbreak of disseminated granulomatous disease occurred in a group of veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) in a zoo collection. An adult female and six offspring developed large granulomas in multiple organs and were euthanized. At necropsy, roughly spherical yellow-to-white nodules 1 to 3 mm in diameter were grossly visible in the liver and other organs. Histopathology revealed fungal elements that were spherical to ovoid in shape, fragments of slender to irregularly swollen hyphae, and occasional conidia produced on phialides. Fungal isolates were initially suspected on the basis of morphology results to represent Paecilomyces viridis, a species known only from one outbreak of fatal mycosis in carpet chameleons (Furcifer lateralis). Data obtained from morphological studies and from phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ribosomal rRNA (rDNA) sequence data revealed the Danish chameleon isolates to be a related undescribed anamorphic species within the family Clavicipitaceae that includes many insect pathogens. Chamaeleomyces granulomatis gen. et sp. nov. is given as the name for the newly described fungus, and P. viridis is transferred to the new genus as Chamaeleomyces viridis comb. nov. Chamaeleomyces species are distinguished by having basally swollen phialides tapering to a narrow neck, conidia in fragile chains, and pale green to greenish-gray colonies. Both species are dimorphic, producing a transitory yeast stage characterized by ovoid-to-subglobose or subcylindrical yeast-like cells. Chamaeleomyces species appear to be rare but aggressive pathogens of chameleons.

Phialosimplex, a new anamorphic genus associated with infections in dogs and having phylogenetic affinity to the Trichocomaceae.

Anamorphic members of the ascomycete family Trichocomaceae including Aspergillus, Penicillium, Paecilomyces, Geosmithia and Sagenomella have been reported from infections in canines. Six clinical isolates (five associated with infections in canines and one from a human source) demonstrated simple phialides producing conidia in long chains and were investigated for their potential relationship to Sagenomella chlamydospora, a known agent of canine disseminated mycosis. Phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and small subunit (SSU) region sequences revealed that all of the canine-associated isolates were distinct from Sagenomella species. The new anamorphic genus and species Phialosimplex caninus is described to accommodate the clinical isolates. Sagenomella chlamydospora and Sagenomella sclerotialis are transferred to the new genus as Phialosimplex chlamydosporus comb. nov. and Phialosimplex sclerotialis comb. nov.

Phialocephala urceolata, sp. nov., from a commercial, water-soluble heparin solution.

Phialocephala urceolata sp. nov. was isolated from a black film that had developed on a water-soluble proprietary heparin solution (pH 2.5). Morphological and enzymatic characters, along with phylogenetic analyses of rDNA sequence data, indicated that the conidial fungus is closely related to species of Phialocephala known primarily as endophytes in the roots of vascular plants (e.g., Acephala applanata, P. fortinii and P. sphaeroides) or as associates of persistent plant organs such as the stems and needles of woody plants (e.g., P. compacta, P. dimorphospora and P. scopiformis). Phialocephala urceolata is distinctive in having urn-shaped phialides that are sparsely distributed along the conidiophore axis, a slow growth rate in culture and in exhibiting a unique combination of reactions on enzymatic test media (i.e., it acidifies casamino acids medium and is gelatinase negative). Partial sequence data from the small subunit (SSU) rDNA indicated that P. urceolata is among the Helotiales and close to the type species of Phialocephala. Sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region places P. urceolata closest to P. sphaeroides. The source of this contaminant is unknown but its taxonomic relationship with other root endophytic species and its ability to produce polyphenol oxidases suggest that the natural habitat of this species is possibly woody plant tissues or soil enriched with lignocellulose.

Identification of a new species, Candida subhashii, as a cause of peritonitis.

We report a case of fungal peritonitis from which a novel Candida species was isolated. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene show that the Candida species is distinct from, but related to, the human pathogenic species, C. parapsilosis, C. orthopsilosis, C. metapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. albicans, and C. dubliniensis. Candida subhashii M. Groenewald, Sigler et Richardson sp. nov. is described.

Graphium basitruncatum fungemia in a patient with acute leukemia.

We report the first case of infection caused by Graphium basitruncatum in a man with acute leukemia who developed persistent fungemia and skin lesions. G. basitruncatum, a member of the Microascaceae, is phylogenetically and morphologically distinct from Graphium penicillioides and the opportunistic pathogens Scedosporium apiospermum (Pseudallescheria boydii) and Scedosporium prolificans.

Ascoma development and phylogeny of an apothecioid dothideomycete, Catinella olivacea.

Catinella olivacea is a discomycetous fungus often found fruiting within cavities in rotting logs. Because this habitat would lack the air currents upon which discomycete species normally rely for the dispersal of their forcibly ejected ascospores, we suspected an alternative disseminative strategy might be employed by this species. An examination of the development of the discomycetous ascomata in pure culture, on wood blocks, and on agar showed that the epithecium was gelatinous at maturity and entrapped released ascospores in a slimy mass. We interpreted this as an adaptation for ascospore disperal by arthropods. Developmental data also showed that C. olivacea was unusual among other discomycetes in the Helotiales (Leotiomycetes). For example, the ascoma developed from a stromatic mass of meristematically dividing cells and involved the formation of a uniloculate cavity within a structure better considered an ascostroma than an incipient apothecium. Furthermore, the ascus had a prominent ocular chamber and released its ascospores through a broad, bivalvate slit. These features, along with phylogenetic analyses of large subunit and small subunit rDNA, indicated that this unusual apothecial fungus is, surprisingly, more closely affiliated with the Dothideomycetes than the Leotiomycetes.

Leptographium piriforme sp. nov., from a taxonomically diverse collection of arthropods collected in an aspen-dominated forest in western Canada.

During a survey of fungi associated with arthropods collected in a southern boreal mixed-wood forest in Alberta we obtained 29 isolates of a unique species of Leptographium. This species displayed a distinct combination of characteristics, including curved conidia on short-stipitate conidiophores, a secondary micronematous conidial state, stalked pear-shaped cells and an optimal growth rate at 35 C, and is described as Leptographium piriforme sp. nov. The isolates were most similar morphologically to L. crassivaginatum, but ITS sequence comparisons indicate that our isolates cannot be assigned to this or any other sequenced species in the genus. Initial observations on the pear-shaped cells in feeding experiments with Sancassania berlesei show that these structures may act as a nutritional incentive for visiting arthropods. Most arthropods carrying this new species were caught in traps baited with dung which, in light of its optimum growth temperature, suggests a coprophilous phase in the life cycle of this species. Additional isolates from woody species typical of the survey area might clarify whether Leptographium piriforme in its forest habitat occurs as a plant pathogen or saprobe.