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Shown below are some of the major mold spores that are responsible for many diseases and health problems, they exacerbate physical conditions causing sickness, illnesses, and death in some cases. These are the major species and each has numerous sub-categories that number in the thousands. All are destroyed by O3 (Ozone) at 6 PPM and higher.
Aspergillus is well-known to play a role in three different clinical settings in man: opportunistic infections; (ii) allergic states; and toxicoses. Immune-suppression is the major factor predisposing to development of opportunistic infections. Alternaria is a fungus commonly isolated from plants, soil, food, and indoor air environment. Alternarias have emerged as opportunistic pathogens particularly in patients with immune-suppression. They are one of the causative agents of sinusitis, ulcerated cutaneous infections, and keratitis. It is among the causative agents of otitis media in agricultural field workers. Aphanoascus is a filamentous fungus that is widely distributed in soil and decaying vegetation as a common environmental contaminant. It is found most commonly in tropical to subtropical regions. Aphanoascus can cause severe infections. The infection is usually acquired via traumatic implantations, such as accidental injuries, insect bites, surgery, and contamination of burn wounds. Invasive soft tissue infections develop on burns or wounds contaminated by soil. Apophysomyces elegans colonies are fluffy and cottony. The inoculated plate is filled with profuse woolly mycelium in 2 to 3 days. Surface of the colony is white initially and turns to brownish gray or yellowish cream as the culture gets older. Reverse is white to pale yellow. Apophysomyces elegans is a thermo tolerant fungus. It grows rapidly at 42°C. Its growth is favorable also at 26°C and 37°C. Arthroderma is the most clinically significant species affecting humans. This organism is a documented etiologic agent of mycetoma, photophobia in a contact lens wearer, sinusitis and meningitis in an AIDS patient, and sinusitis and ophthalmitis in a healthy individual following trauma to the eye. Aspergillus Flavus this species is the etiologic agent in a wide range of infections including mycotoxicoses owing to aflotoxins, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, otitis, sinusitis, and invasive disease. Some reports suggest the disease process may be potentiated by aflotoxins, particularly in the immuno-compromised/neutropenic host. Basidiobolus has been isolated from decaying plants, soil, and from the fecal materials of frogs, reptiles, fish, and bats. The relationship of these organisms to human occupied spaces potentially suggests a common presence of these genera of fungi in the indoor environments. Should be considered allergenic. Blastomyces it is the causative agent of blastomycosis which is one of the true systemic (endemic) mycoses. Blastomycosis in general is acquired by inhalation and initially presents with a pulmonary infection which may later disseminate to other organs and systems. Hematogenous spread of the organism results in infection of skin, bones, kidneys and male uro-genital system; it may also affect immune-compromised patients, indicating that Blastomyces dermatitidis has now emerged as an opportunistic pathogen. Candida includes around 154 species. Among these, six are most frequently isolated in human infections. While Candida albicans is the most abundant and significant species, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei, and Candida lusitaniae are also isolated as causative agents of Candida infections. Importantly, there has been a recent increase in infections. Chaetomium are among the fungi causing infections wholly referred to as phaeohyphomycosis. Fatal deep mycoses due to Chaetomium atrobrunneum have been reported in an immune-compromised host. Brain abscess, peritonitis, cutaneous lesions, and onychomycosis may also develop due to Chaetomium. Cladophialophora are causative agents of phaeohyphomycosis, chromoblastomycosis, and mycetoma. Cladophialophora bantiana is neurotropic and causes cerebral phaehyphomycosis in the form of brain abscesses, for which the clinical course is usually fatal. It may also cause skin lesions. While Cladophialophora boppii and Cladophialophora carrioinii are isolated from patients with chromoblastomycosis, Cladophialophora boppii may also cause skin lesions. Trauma and exposure to soil are main predisposing factors for acquiring infections due to Cladophialophora carrioinii. Cladophialophora bantiana is most probably acquired via inhalation. Coccidioides is the causative agent of coccidioidomycosis in humans. Coccidioidomycosis is one of the true systemic (endemic) mycoses. It is acquired by inhalation and initially presents with a pulmonary infection which may later disseminate to other organs and systems. Airway coccidioidomycosis involving the endotracheal and endobronchial tissues may develop. Inhalation of the dry arthroconidia of Coccidioides immitis/posadasii, which are carried by dust storms, initiates the infection. Afterwards, hematogenous spread of the organism results in infection of skin, bones, joints, lymph nodes, adrenal glands, and central nervous system. Conidiobolus is a subcutaneous infection involving nasal mucosa and maxillofacial tissues. This chronic inflammatory granulomatous disease is also referred to as entomophthoromycosis conidiobolae. It involves facial subcutaneous tissues and paranasal sinuses, leading to formation of firm, subcutaneous nodules or polyps. The infection may be acquired via inhalation of spores or a minor trauma such as an insect bite. The infected host is frequently an otherwise healthy individual working outdoors in tropical areas. However, the infection may also develop in patients with underlying pathologies, such as neutropenia or Burkitt's lymphoma. The organism is thus emerging as an opportunist. Cryptococcus neoformans is the causative agent of cryptococcosis. Given the neurotropic nature of the fungus, the most common clinical form of cryptococcosis is meningoencephalitis. The course of the infection is usually sub acute or chronic. Cryptococcosis may also involve the skin, lungs, prostate gland, urinary tract, eyes, myocardium, bones, and joints. Epidermophyton is a filamentous fungus and one of the three fungal genera classified as dermatophytes. It is distributed worldwide. Man is the primary host of Epidermophyton floccosum, the only species which is pathogenic. Exophiala are among the fungi causing infections wholly referred to as phaeohyphomycosis. Subcutaneous infections such as mycetoma and chromoblastomycosis may develop due to Exophiala isolates. These infections are usually acquired via traumatic implantation and are associated with the existence of local or systemic immune-suppression, such as organ transplantation. As well as infection and abscess formation in subcutaneous tissues, prosthetic valvular vegetations, fungemia, and disseminated infections due to Exophiala spp. have also been reported. Fusariums are causative agents of superficial and systemic infections in humans. Infections due to Fusarium spp. are collectively referred to as fusariosis. The most virulent Fusarium spp. is Fusarium solani. Trauma is the major predisposing factor for development of cutaneous infections due to Fusarium strains. Disseminated opportunistic infections, on the other hand, develop in immune-suppressed hosts. Pseudallescheria boydii - the infections caused are occasionally and wholly referred to as pseudallescheriasis. The affected host is commonly immune-suppressed due to various reasons, such as hematological malignancies, organ transplantation or AIDS. Pyrenochaeta romeroi has been isolated from cases with mycetoma. The grains are soft, irregular, and black with a sub hyaline center. Pyrenochaeta unguis-hominis, on the other hand, has been isolated from the infected nails of some cases. Rhizopuses are among the fungi causing the group of infections referred to as zygomycosis. Although the term mucormycosis has often been used for this syndrome, zygomycosis is now the preferred term for this angio-invasive disease. Zygomycosis includes mucocutaneous, rhino cerebral, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and disseminated infections. Diabetic ketoacidosis and immune-suppression due to various reasons are the most frequent predisposing factors. Scedosporium can infect both immune-competent and immune-compromised hosts. Subcutaneous infections, osteomyelitis, and arthritis are usually posttraumatic and may affect otherwise healthy individuals. Disseminated infections, on the other hand, are mostly encountered in patients who are immune-suppressed (particularly, neutropenic) due to various reasons and are often fatal. Scopulariopsis is a filamentous fungus that inhabits soil, plant material, feathers, and insects. It is distributed worldwide. Several species of Scopulariopsis have teleomorphs which are classified in the genus Microascus. While Scopulariopsis is commonly considered as a contaminant, it may cause infections in humans, particularly in immune-compromised patients. It is a weakly keratinolytic fungus which is highly resistant to benomyl. One of the most striking features of Scopulariopsis brevicaulis is its association with human deaths by producing arsine gas from arsenate dyes found in wallpapers. Sporothrix schenckii is the causative agent of sporotrichosis ("rose handler's disease"). Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous infection with a common chronic and a rare progressive course. The infection starts following entry of the infecting fungus through the skin via a minor trauma and may affect an otherwise healthy individual. Stachybotrys produces trichothecene Mycotoxins, the satratoxins. Trichothecenes are potent inhibitors of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. They modulate inflammatory reactions and alter alveolar surfactant phospholipids concentrations. These toxins may be acquired by ingestion of food products contaminated with the fungus or experimentally, via direct inhalation of the spores. The pathogenicity of Stachybotrys was first observed in cattle and horses in Russia in 1920. Stomatitis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, pancytopenia and neurological disorders developed in animals following ingestion of hay contaminated with Stachybotrys. This outbreak was the first to draw attention to Stachybotrys and its toxins. Trichoderma infections are opportunistic and develop in immune-compromised patients, such as neutropenic cases and transplant recipients, as well as patients with chronic renal failure, chronic lung disease, or amyloidosis. Peritonitis, pulmonary, perihepatic, and disseminated infections have so far been reported. Trichosporon are the causative agents of white piedra, superficial infections and invasive trichosporonosis. This fungus has emerged as an opportunistic fungal pathogen. Immune-compromised hosts are particularly under risk to develop invasive infection, which usually progresses rapidly, involving various organs and systems, including the lungs, kidneys, and spleen. Cutaneous lesions as a manifestation of disseminated infection are also likely. Trichosporon is one of the fungi isolated from patients with fungemia. It may infect prosthetic valves, central nervous system (including chronic meningitis), cornea and the peritoneum (in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis). Wangiella dermatitidis is an occasional causative agent of phaeohyphomycosis. Subcutaneous phaehypomycosis is the most common clinical picture. The infection develops after traumatic implantation of the fungus through the skin. Wangiella dermatitidis is a neurotropic fungus. Central nervous system infections have been reported. It may also cause keratitis, otitis, pneumonia, and endocarditis. Mold & Odors Are Serious Problems And Have Serious Consequences. In order to help you become better informed to enable you protect yourself, your family, friends, and employees; Mold & Odor Masters suggests you visit the following helpful sites (click to launch site): CDC – Centers of Disease Control [Mold] CDC – Centers of Disease Control [Fungal Growth] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington State Department of Health National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Association of Mold Professionals American Industrial Hygiene Association New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
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