DESCRIPTIONS OF MEDICAL FUNGI

Descriptions of Medical Fungi 55
Cladophialophora carrionii (Trejos) de Hoog et al.
Synonymy: Cladosporium carrionii Trejos
Cladophialophora carrionii is a recognised agent of chromoblastomycosis and it
has been isolated from soil and fence posts made from Eucalyptus spp. Cases of
chromoblastomycosis caused by C. carrionii are commonly found in Australia,
Venezuela, Madagascar and South America. Isolates from phaeomycotic cysts and
opportunistic infections have also been reported.
RG-2 organism.
Morphological Description: Colonies are slow growing, reaching 3-4 cm in diameter
after one month, with a compact suede-like to downy surface and are olivaceous-black
in colour. Microscopy shows ascending to erect, olivaceous-green, apically branched,
elongate conidiophores producing branched acropetal chains of conidia. Conidia are
pale olivaceous, smooth-walled or slightly verrucose, limoniform to fusiform, 1.5-3.0 x
2.0-7.0 µm in size. Bulbous phialides with large collarettes and minute, hyaline conidia
are occasionally formed on nutritionally poor media. Maximum growth temperature
35-37 O C.
Molecular Identification: ITS sequencing is recommended (Abliz et al. 2004; de Hoog
et al. 2007).
Key Features: Conidia are smaller and comprise heavily branched chains which fall
apart much more easily than in the other Cladophialophora species.
References: McGinnis (1980), Rippon (1988), de Hoog et al. (1995, 2000, 2015).
Cladophialophora carrionii culture.