Apophysomyces

Apophysomyces elegans is a thermotolerant fungus: it has been found to grow favourably at temperatures of 26 °C and 37 °C, and it grows rapidly at 42 °C. Its colonies are fluffy and cottony in appearance. The surface of the colony is white initially and turns to a brownish-grey or yellowish-cream as the culture ages, while the underside is white to pale yellow in colour.[3]^[4]

Pathogenicity

Normally, no special precautions are needed with regard to this fungus.

However, Apophysomyces elegans and Apophysomyces trapeziformis are able to cause mucormycosis, in humans, which is often fatal but very rare.^[5][6][7] Reports of other mammals being infected are mostly restricted to captive species, but in 2021 a female lesser long-nosed bat was found with mucormycosis in the wild.^[8]

Infection is usually acquired via traumatic implantations associated with soil or decaying vegetable matter (such as from accidental injuries or insect bites). Invasive soft tissue infections can develop on burns or wounds which are contaminated by soil. Unlike other

• Mucormycosis (specific term for infection caused by fungi of the order Mucorales)
• Zygomycosis (a more generic term for infection caused by Mucoraceae and various other fungus varieties; the term Mucormycosis is preferred).

References