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You are here: Home / Archives for Fungi

Indoor Moulds: Cladosporium herbarum

Jackson Kung'u

Cladosporium herbarum is the most abundant mould in air. It shows marked seasonal variability in counts with a maximum in summer and a minimum in winter. Highest counts may be obtained in the late morning depending on the enviromental conditions. While Cladosporium herbarum is not pathogenic it’s an important source of allergens for mold-allergic individuals. People get exposed to mold when they inhale dried mycelia in house dust or they inhale spores from outdoor or indoor sources. Spores of Cladosporium herbarium are common in both indoor and outdoor air especially in summer.

Cladosporium herbarum is very common on dead plants, textiles, rubber, paper, foodstuffs and air. Its spores are often by far the most significant in air samples paricularly in summer. It has also been reported as a cause of meat spoilage in cold storage.

In indoor environment, Cladosporium herbarum has been reported in floor, carpet and mattress dust; damp acrylic painted walls, wallpaper; HVAC insulation, filters and fans.

Do you have a question regarding Cladosporium herbarum or any other mould? Call us at (905)290-9101.

Filed Under: Fungi

Indoor Moulds: Trichoderma species

Jackson Kung'u

Trichoderma sp in cultureSpecies of Trichoderma are very common in soil and cellulolytic materials including decaying wood, wood products, textiles, stored cereals and plant foodstuffs. Many species are strongly cellulolytic (i.e., they are capable of degrading cellulose since they produce large quantities of the enzyme cellulase). For this reason, they are important spoilage organisms and also cause post-harvest rots of various fruits and vegetables. They are also important producers of antibiotics and they have been researched extensively for biological control, especially of wood-rotting fungi.

In indoor environment, Trichoderma spp are commonly found on gypsum board and water saturated wood, wallpaper, carpet and mattress dust, paint, and air-conditioning filters. Human infection by species of Trichoderma is limited to individuals with severely weakened immune system. However, some species such as Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride are producers of potent mycotoxins.

Do you have a mould question? Call us at (905)290-9101.

Filed Under: Fungi

Health Problems Associated with Indoor Moulds

Jackson Kung'u

Exposure to indoor mould has been associated with the following health problems:

  • respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing
  • respiratory infections such as aspergilloses
  • allergic diseases, including allergic asthma and bronchitis
  • unspecific symptoms, e.g., eye and skin irritation, fatigue, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

The moulds most frequently encountered in indoor environment are Penicillium, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Ulocladium, Stachybotrys, Cladosporium, Acremonium, Mucor, Paecilomyces, Alternaria, and Trichoderma. These moulds are all known to cause different types of inhalation allergy. Some moulds such as Chaetomium, Stachybotrys and Ulocladium thrive under very wet conditions. Their presence in indoor environment is an indication of water problem.

Do you have a mould question? Call us at (905)290-9101.

Filed Under: Fungi Tagged With: Acremonium, allergy, Alternaria, aspergillosis, Aspergillus, bronchitis, chaetomium, cladosporium, Mucor, Paecilomyces, penicillium, stachybotrys, Trichoderma, Ulocladium

Dampness, Mould, Mites and Allergy

Jackson Kung'u

Dampness in buildings is believed to increase asthma and allergy risks. Studies have shown that the risk of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis is higher in damp homes. This is partly because dampness encourages proliferation of micro-organisms such as moulds, bacteria and mites, some of which are well established and documented toxin producers or allergens. Dampness in homes and workplaces should therefore be controlled in order to reduce the risk of occupants developing respiratory problems.

Filed Under: Fungi Tagged With: allergy, asthma, damp homes, dampness, dermatitis, Mites, mould

What Are the Health Effects of Eating Mouldy Food and Feed?

Jackson Kung'u

Recently we received the following questions and comments. “Eating mouldy bread is discouraged. Where can I find the facts that prove this? Are there moulds that grow on bread that are harmless? Some of my patients that survived food shortages in The UK during World War II by eating mouldy bread and other foods insist that such fears about mould are unfounded”.

Rye bread contaminated with the mould Monascus ruber Why Is Eating Mouldy Food
Discouraged?

It is true that people may eat mouldy food without any harm. In many cases, children and adults who live on the streets in developing countries survive on food and fruits thrown into waste bins. Most of these foods and fruits are usually contaminated with mould and bacteria. The major reasons why eating mouldy food is dangerous is because such food is likely to be contaminated with mycotoxins (i.e., fungal poisons). Luckily, toxigenic moulds require certain growth conditions to produce the toxins and hence presence of these moulds on food does not necessarily mean the food contains mycotoxins. There is also a risk of food poisoning caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Bacillus cereus, and Entero-pathogenic Escherichia coli.

Read the whole article at http://www.moldbacteria.com/mold/what-are-health-effects-eating-mouldy-food-feeds.html.

Do you have a mould question? Call us at (905)290-9101

Filed Under: Fungi Tagged With: mouldy food, mycotoxins

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July 2025
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Salmonella food poisoning and symptoms

Salmonella food poisoning has been a growing concern in recent news. It has frequently lead to recalls of beef, salads and organic products and, even peanut butter products. Salmonella food poisoning occurs when one eats raw or undercooked foods such meat, poultry, eggs or egg products. Properly cooked food can get contaminated with Salmonella if […]

Legionella pneumophila – Guidelines for Laboratory Interpretation

Legionella pneumophila is a Gram negative, aerobic bacteria that is characterized as an opportunistic pathogen. It is the cause of Legionnaires’ Disease, a severe form of pneumonia and, it is the cause of Pontiac fever, a non-pneumonic form of L. pneumophila infection. Legionella spp.’s mode of transmission is through aerosols or aspiration of contaminated water. The Public Health […]

The Indoor Mold Is An Early Warning Device

The mold (or mould, in the Queen’s English) has been the victim of a bad press. Mention the word and it conjures up an image of something rotting or in the process of decomposition. And yet, were it not for the mold that inspired the discovery of penicillin millions of lives would have been lost. […]

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