Fusarium

Natural Habitat

• Soil
• Plant pathogen causing root rot, stem rot, and wilt of many ornamental and crop plants.

Suitable Substrates in the Indoor Environment

• Often found in humidifiers
• wet, cellulose-based building materials

Water Activity

• Aw=0.86-0.91

Mode of Dissemination

• Insects
• Water droplets, rain
• Wind when spores become dry

Allergenic Potential

• Type I allergies (hay fever, asthma)

Potential Opportunist or Pathogen

• Esophageal cancer is believed to happen after consumption of F. moniliforme infected corn
• Keratitis
• Endophthalmitis
• Onychomycosis
• Cutaneous infections
• Mycetoma
• Sinusitis
• Pulmonary infections
• Endocarditis
• Peritonitis
• Central venous catheter infections
• Septic arthritis

• Neurological disease in horses after consumption of F. moniliforme infected corn
• Respiratory disease in pigs after consumption of F. moniliforme infected corn

Industrial Uses

• Biological Weapon

Potential Toxins Produced

• Trichothecenes
• Zearalenone
• Fumonisins

Other Comments

• Major plant pathogen

References

• Atlas of Moulds in Europe causing respiratory Allergy
, Foundation for Allergy Research in Europe, Edited by Knud Wilken-Jensen and Suzanne Gravesen, ASK Publishing, Denmark, 1984