DESCRIPTIONS OF MEDICAL FUNGI

Descriptions of Medical Fungi 97
Fusarium dimerum complex
The Fusarium dimerum complex contains 12 phylogenetically distinct species including
F. delphinoides, F. penzigii and F. dimerum. These are regarded as cosmopolitan
saprotrophs in soil and on plant materials (Domsch et al. 2007). They have also been
isolated from human corneal ulcers after trauma and from disseminated or localised
infections in immunocompromised patients (Schroers et al. 2009, Guarro 2013).
RG-1 organisms.
Morphological Description: Colonies growing slowly; surface usually orange to
deep apricot due to confluent conidial slime; aerial mycelium sometimes floccose and
whitish. Conidiophores loosely branched, with short, often swollen phialides, 10-18 x
4-5 μm. Macroconidia strongly curved and pointed at the apex, mostly one-(some up to
three)-septate, 5-25 (-32) x 1.5-4.2 μm. Microconidia absent. Chlamydospores mostly
intercalary, exceptionally terminal, spherical to ovoidal, 6-12 μm diam, smooth-walled,
single or in chains.
a
b
20 μm
Fusarium dimerum complex (a) culture showing orange to deep apricot
colour due to confluent conidial slime, and (b) macroconidia.
Antifungal Susceptibility: F. dimerum complex (Australian National data); MIC
µg/mL.
No. 64
AmB 21 1 6 6 5 6 2 1
VORI 20 5 8 6 3 3 1
POSA 18 1 4 2 11
ITRA 21 3 24