Fusarium (Moisture molds)

(Vermeulen) If you want a good book on Fungi—

you need to buy Vermeulen’s “Fungi” - expensive but
worth it if you are trying to DD between them

Requiring very wet conditions

“Moisture molds”
Release spores mainly during rainy or foggy
weather

Fusarium fungi causes wilt disease in over 100

crop plants. Can cause root or stem rot, vascular
wilt or fruit rot. Some cause storage rot.
Many species are considered pathogenic to man
and animals

The fungus colonizes and blocks the water-

conducting vessels of plants resulting in
inadequate upward movement of water and
consequently leaf wilting, yellowing and
eventually plant death.
However they help decompose plant debris, playing vital role in Carbon/Nitrogen cycle
Fusarium has “Slimy” spores as compared to Penicillian and Aspergillus which have dry
spores

Often causes
Keratitis eye's cornea, the front part of the eye, becomes inflamed.
Onychomycosis—fungal infection of the nail
Hyalohyphomycosis - serious invasion of this fungi—typically in bone marrow
transplants and burn victims

First written about in 1600—about rot in corn

Then associated with rot
in potatoes in 1850’s
In 1890– animals eating
tainted grain reported
loss of hair and hooves
Fusarium graminearum ()
Fusarium graminearum begin

Estrogenic Syndrome
Increased female hormones!
Grows on corn cobs stored wet over winter

Pathogenic/parasitis or saprophytic mould

Required wet and cool weather
Release of spores typically during rainy or
foggy weather
Too rapid growth
Conversion of female into male
Estrogen syndrome

Used in the commercial production of high-protein food

Fusarium graminearum growing on corn produces zearalenone, which cases

oestrogenic syndrome
In male pigs cause: enlarged beasts, shriveled testes
In females; early puberty, swollen breasts, infertility, swollen vulvas, vaginitis
Early maturation in females
High level of estrogen may be related to cancer, as estrogen levels are usually high for
years prior to cancer development
Fusarium oxysporum

Keys (Vermeulen)
Pathogenic/parasitic or saprophytic mould
Causes wilt in crop plants—loss of turgidity and
collapse of leaves
Requires very wet conditions
Release of spores during rainy
Requires calcium
Bio-bombing
Colonizer of burned skin
Affinity for blood vessels and skin
Fusarium sporotrichidides

Keys (Vermeulen)
Pathogenic/parasitic or saprophytic mould
Contaminates cereals
Favors wet and cool weather
Produces toxin that are heat and ultra-violet light stable
Hemorrhages
Neurotoxicity
Radiation poisoning and chemotherapy

Diagnosis of Alimentary Toxic Aleukia (ATA)

Often mistaken for a contagious disease
Characterized by
THROAT ULCERATIONS (Key)
Bleeding in the throat
Ulceration in the throat
Skin Eruptions

Mild cases
Headaches, listlessness, chill , fleeting pains in back jints
Nausea, vomiting
Copperish taste or pepperish smart in oral cavity
Burning sensation fro mouth to stomach

Also
Tonsils and uvula painfully inflamed and swollen
Putrid smell about patient
Stool dark and fetid
Skin eruptions, red flush

In worst cases
Swelling and necrosis of oral cavity
Necrosis spreads to larynx, to stomach, lungs etc.
Skin eruptions
Hemorrhages, begin on the skin, then bleeding from nose, mouth, vagina… rectum

Often mistaken for diphtheria, but in diphtheria there is no bleeding in throat and
no skin eruption