Aspergillus flavus

Date: 26 November 2013

Aspergillus flavus

Copyright:

© Fungal Research Trust

Notes:

Colonies on CYA 60-70 mm diam, plane, sparse to moderately dense, velutinous in marginal areas at least, often floccose centrally, sometimes deeply so; mycelium only conspicuous in floccose areas, white; conidial heads usually borne uniformly over the whole colony, but sparse or absent in areas of floccose growth or sclerotial production, characteristically Greyish Green to Olive Yellow (1-2B-E5-7), but sometimes pure Yellow (2-3A7-8), becoming greenish in age; sclerotia produced by about 50% of isolates, at first white, becoming deep reddish brown, density varying from inconspicuous to dominating colony appearance and almost entirely suppressing conidial production; exudate sometimes produced, clear, or reddish brown near sclerotia; reverse uncoloured or brown to reddish brown beneath sclerotia. Colonies on MEA 50-70 mm diam, similar to those on CYA although usually less dense. Colonies on G25N 25-40 mm diam, similar to those on CYA or more deeply floccose and with little conidial production, reverse pale to orange or salmon. No growth at 5°C. At 37°C, colonies usually 55-65 mm diam, similar to those on CYA at 25°C, but more velutinous, with olive conidia, and sometimes with more abundant sclerotia.

Sclerotia produced by some isolates, at first white, rapidly becoming hard and reddish brown to black, spherical, usually 400- 800 µm diam. Teleomorph not known. Conidiophores borne from subsurface or surface hyphae, stipes 400 µm to 1 mm or more long, colourless or pale brown, rough walled; vesicles spherical, 20-45 µm diam, fertile over three quarters of the surface, typically bearing both metulae and phialides, but in some isolates a proportion or even a majority of heads with phialides alone; metulae and phialides of similar size, 7-10 µm long; conidia spherical to subspheroidal, usually 3.5-5.0 µm diam, with relatively thin walls, finely roughened or, rarely, smooth.

Distinctive features

Aspergillus flavus is distinguished by rapid growth at both 25°C and 37°C, and a bright yellow green (or less commonly yellow) conidial colour. A. flavus produces conidia which are rather variable in shape and size, have relatively thin walls, and range from smooth to moderately rough, the majority being finely rough.


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Showing 10 posts of 2574 posts found.
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  • X-Rays -Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) with 3 relapses.

    A female patient JO (50 yrs) with right middle lobe collapse. The patient presented with a 6 month history of cough which has persisted despite antibiotics and both steroid and salbutamol inhalers. She then developed acute breathlessness with coughing and wheezing. There was no history of asthma. Bronchoscopy (Image K) showed a mucous plug obstructing the right upper lobe bronchus.

    Images D – G are X rays showing relapse in 1998 and recovery 

    Images H – J are X rays showing relapse in 2003 

    Image K. Bronchoscopy appearance of mucous impaction of the bronchus intermedius – pt JO (50yrs). There was a long mucous plug in the anterior segment of the RUL. Half of this was aspirated and sent for microscopy and culture. The second half “fell into” the bronchus intermedius (which feeds the right middle lobe) and was only partially aspirated.

    Images L – O: High resolution CT scan of thorax in pt JO, post bronchoscopy. 1.5mm sections at 1 cm intervals of whole lung. There is collapse and consolidation in the right middle lobe with dilation of the right middle lobe bronchi. There is also minor bronchiectasis in the right upperlobe with a little patchy air space shadowing . There is no mediastinal lymphadenopathy or any interstitial fibrosis.

    Image P & Q: Histology: Mucous plug (3x 0.5x 0.5cm) containing numerous inflammatory cells, including eosinophils and nuclear debris.GMS staining reveals occasional fungal hyphae with septa and dichotomous branching. These appearances support the diagnosis of bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis. Bronchioalveolar lavage fluid was negative on microscopy and no fungi were grown. A year later Aspergillus fumigatus was grown from her sputum.

    Image A. 4/4/96 Her chest X-ray shows collapse and consolidation, probably of her right middle lobe., Image B. 18/4/96 Chest X-ray of pt JO post bronchoscopy. Increased shadowing is seen in the right mid zone, consistent with right middle lobe collapse and consolidation., Image C. 09/08/96 Post CT scan and treatment.Resolution of right middle lobe collapse, with residual streaky markings in the right lower lobe. , Image D. 01/98 Exacerbation showing right lower lobe opacification , Image E. 03/98 Near complete resolution with corticosteroid treatment, Image F. 03/01 Exacerbation showing shadowing in a different area of right lower lobe, Image G. 05/01 Complete resolution of abnormality, Image H. 14/02/03 Further exacerbation in right lower lobe, Image I. 21/02/03 some improvement after a week on corticosteroids, Image J. 08/00 Normal X ray , Image K. Bronchoscopy-Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) 4/4/96, Image L. Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) 2/7/96, Image M. Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) 2/7/96, Image N. Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) 2/7/96 , Image O. Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) 2/7/96 , Image P. 4/4/96  Microscopic appearance of bronchial plug pt JO (H&E stain)., Image Q. 4/4/96  Microscopic appearance of bronchial plug pt JO (Gomori methenamine silver stain (GMS)).

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