Alternaria species

A rapidly growing fungus that produces a grayish-white colony that becomes greenish-black within five days, when incubated at 25oC (77oF). The hyphae, conidiophores, and conidia are pigmented olivaceous-brown (dematiaceous). It is found worldwide and is very common. It can be isolated from air, plants (Ablackspot@ of roses), foodstuffs, soil, carpets, and textiles. It can be an opportunistic human pathogen causing a hypersensitivity pneumonitis (woodworker=s lung disease) and an immediate-type hypersensitivity-type I (IgE-mediated) extrinsic asthma and disease that is very common in individuals with atopic disease.

Back to Glossary Index Page