Chrysosporium is a type of hyaline hyphomycetes (fungi).
Their colonies are moderately fast growing, flat, white to tan to beige in colour; they often with a powdery or
granular surface texture. Hyaline, one-celled (ameroconidia) are produced directly on vegetative hyphae by non-specialized
conidiogenous cells. Conidia are typically pyriform to clavate with truncate bases (6 to 7 by 3.5 to 4 um) and are formed either
intercalary (arthroconidia), laterally (often on
pedicels), or terminally.
Clinical Significance
Species of Chrysosporium are occasionally isolated from skin and nail scrapings, especially from feet, but, because they are
common soil saprophytes, they are usually considered as contaminants. There are about
22 species of Chrysosporium, several are keratinophilic with some also being thermotolerant, and cultures may closely resemble some dermatophytes,
especially Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and some strains may also resemble cultures of
Histoplasma and Blastomyces.
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