Fusarium species

A rapidly-growing fungus that produces a pale or bright colored colony within four days, when incubated at 25oC (77oF). It is found worldwide and is commonly isolated from plants, soil, caves, salt marshes, mangrove mud, insects, gerbils, bird feathers, water, wooden furniture, and wood pulp. Some isolates produce the mycotoxin trichothecene which can cause disease in humans and animals. Trichothecene targets the circulatory, alimentary, skin, and nervous systems. Some isolates produce the mycotoxin vomitoxin on grains which produce disease by either ingestion or inhalation of the contaminated grains. It can be an opportunistic human pathogen causing allergic disease, eye, skin, and nail infections.

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