Journal List > Ann Clin Microbiol > v.16(2) > 1078469

Huh, Lee, Park, Jun, Kang, Kim, Ki, and Lee: A Case of Misidentification of Aspergillus versicolor Complex as Scopulariopsis Species Isolated from a Homograft

초록

We report a case of the isolation of the Aspergillus versicolor complex, initially misidentified by morpho-logical characteristics as the Scopulariopsis species, from a homograft with a bicuspidalized pulmonary valve. An eighteen-month-old female, who had critical pulmonary stenosis, underwent pulmonary valve re-placement. On postoperative day 8, she developed a fever, which did not respond to empiric broad-spec-trum antibiotics. While no definitive source was identified, a filamentous fungus was isolated from the thawed homograft tissue culture prior to implantation on the operation day. The colonies were powdery green with white edges on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Microscopic examination showed septate hyphae with branched conidiophores and chains of spiny conidia, which suggested Scopulariopsis species. After direct sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the fungus was identified as the A. versicolor complex. To our knowledge, the isolation of the A. versicolor complex from a homograft valve has not been previously described. This case shows that laboratory staff should be aware that microscopic morphology of the A. versicolor complex can re-semble that of a number of other genera, including Scopulariopsis species.

REFERENCES

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Fig. 1.
A. versicolor colonies on a SDA plate. (A) The grayish green surface with white edges (B) Reverse of colony.
acm-16-105f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Microscopic morphology of A. versicolor isolated from this case resembling Scopulariopsis spp. (lactophenol cotton blue stain, ×400 and ×1,000, respectively).
acm-16-105f2.tif
Table 1.
Differentiating characteristics of species of Scopulariopsis, Penicillium, Aspergillus versicolor and A. sydowii.
Organism Scopulariosis spp. Penicillium spp. Aspergillus spp.
A. versicolor A. sydowii
Growth Mature within 5 days Mature within 4 days Mature within 3 days Mature within 3 days
Macroscopic morphology Usually powdery light brown with a light tan periphery Powdery and bluish green with white border Usually velvety green Velvety deep blue green
Microscopic morphology
  Conidiophores Branched Branched or unbranched Smooth and medium length Vesicles 9-16 μ m Smooth medium length Vesicle 5-10 μ m
  Phialides/Annellides Cylinderical or tenpin shaped annellides Flask-shaped phialides Biseriate phiallides Loosely radiate Biseriate phiallides
  Conidia Round, thick walled, rough and spiny (4-9 μ m) Round (2.5-5 μ m) Round, slightly rough (2-3.5 μ m) Subglobose, spinulose (2.5-3 μ m)
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