DESCRIPTIONS OF MEDICAL FUNGI

Descriptions of Medical Fungi 53
Cladophialophora Borelli
The genus Cladophialophora is characterised by: (1) the absence of conidiophores,
“shield cells,” or prominent hila (attachment points); (2) the ability to grow on media
containing cycloheximide; and (3) having dry, non-fragile chains of conidia (Revankar
and Sutton 2010). It has recently been re-evaluated by multilocus sequencing and
currently contains seven species associated with human infection (Badali et al. 2008).
Cladophialophora bantiana is the causative agent of numerous cases of cerebral
phaeohyphomycosis many of which occur in immunocompetent individuals and most
of which are fatal (Chakrabarti et al. 2016). C. carrionii and the recently described C.
samoensis are agents of chromoblastomycosis. Less common species occasionally
implicated in deep and superficial mycoses include, C. arxii, C. boppii, C. devriesii, C.
emmonsii, C. modesta and C. saturnica. C. yegresii is a closely related environmental
sister species to C. carrionii (Revankar and Sutton 2010, de Hoog et al. 1995, 2015).
Cladophialophora bantiana (Saccardo) de Hoog et al.
Synonymy: Xylohypha bantiana (Saccardo) McGinnis, Borelli and Ajello.
Cladosporium bantianum (Sacc.) Borelli.
Cladosporium trichoides Emmons.
Cladophialophora bantiana has been isolated from soil and is a recognised agent of
cerebral phaeohyphomycosis. The fungus is neurotropic and may cause brain abscess
in both normal and immunosuppressed patients and is usually fatal. The fungus is likely
introduced via inhalation and direct transfer to the brain via the paranasal sinuses, or
traumatic head injury.
WARNING: RG-3 organism. Cultures of C. bantiana represent a potential biohazard
to laboratory personnel and must be handled with extreme caution in Class II Biological
Safety Cabinet (BSCII).
Morphological Description: Colonies are moderately fast growing, olivaceousgrey,
suede-like to floccose and grow at temperatures up to 42-43 O C. Conidia are
formed in long, sparsely branched, flexuose, acropetal chains from undifferentiated
conidiophores. Conidia are one-celled (very occasionally two-celled), pale brown,
smooth-walled, ellipsoid to oblong-ellipsoid and are 2-3 x 4-7 µm in size.
C. bantiana may be distinguished from Cladosporium species by the absence of conidia
with distinctly pigmented hila, the absence of shield cells and by growth at >40 O C
(compared with C. carrionii which has a maximum growth temperature of 35-37 O C, and
Cladosporium species which have a maximum of