Colony Description:
Colonies appear powdery to woolly, greyish-green to olivaaceous-green in colour.
Spore (Conidia) Description:
Spores (ascospores) of Chaetomium are produced within structures (asci) contained in a flask-shaped fruiting body known as perithecium. The spores ooze out of the perithecium and get trapped by coiled or dichotomously branched hairs that grow around the neck of the perithecium.
Habitat outdoors:
Chaetomium molds are commonly found in soil, air, dung, and plant debris.
Habitat Indoors:
Damp or leaking roof, a damp basement, leaky pipes, or areas around the sink.
Potential Health Effects:
Allergenic
Common
Type I allergies (hay fever, asthma).
Dermatitis
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Pathogenic
Skin and nail infections
Pulmonary mycosis
Severe brain abscesses
Fatal cerebral infections
Memory loss
Balance issues
Nose bleeds
Acid reflux
Headaches
Seizures
Internal lesions
Fever
Fatal cerebral infections
General malaise
Toxigenic
Toxins are chemical components which are capable of causing diseases and death.
Chaetomium molds can produce several mycotoxins. Many of these compounds have been reported to have teratogenic and carcinogenic effects.
Below are some of the toxins produced.
Sterigmatocystin,
O-methylsterigmatocystin,
Chaetochromin,
Chaetocin
Chetomin
Cochliodinols,
Mollicellin
Written by: Terry Dorleon
References
Doctor Fungus. (n.d.). Chaetomium Species. Retrieved January 3, 2020, from Doctor Fungus: https://drfungus.org/knowledge-base/chaetomium-species/
Kim, D. M., Lee, M. H., Suh, M. K., Ha, G. Y., Kim, H., & Choi, J. S. (2013, may 10). Onychomycosis Caused by Chaetomium globosum. doi:10.5021/ad.2013.25.2.232
KUNG'U, J. (n.d.). Chaetomium Species as Indoor Contaminants. Retrieved January 03, 2020, from Mold Bacteria Consulting: http://www.moldbacteriaconsulting.com/fungi/chaetomium-species-as-indoor.html
Ward, J. (2019, April 13). Chaetomium. Retrieved January 3, 2020, from Mold Busters: https://www.bustmold.com/resources/mold-library/chaetomium/
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