Cladosporium cladosporioides

A slow-growing fungus that produces a velvety, dark greenish-brown to blackish colony with an olivaceous-black reverse, when incubated at 25oC (77oF) in 5-10 days. The hyphae, conidiophores, and conidia are pigmented olivaceous-brown (dematiaceous). It is found worldwide and is the most common fungus isolated from the air, soil, water, sewage and activated sludge, compost beds, stored woods, bird feathers, food products, and on plants. Rarely, it can be an opportunistic human pathogen but it can cause an immediate-type hypersensitivity – type I (IgE-mediated) extrinsic asthma.

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