Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Taxonomy of Ochroconis, genus including opportunistic pathogens on humans and animals

  • Published:
Fungal Diversity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The genus Ochroconis (Sympoventuriaceae, Venturiales) is revised and currently contains 13 species for which the phylogenetic position has been determined using multilocus sequencing. The older generic name Scolecobasidium is considered to be of doubtful identity because the type specimen is ambiguous. Within the Ochroconis lineage, phylogenetic distances of all markers analyzed are exceptionally large, both between and within species. A new genus Verruconis is proposed for the neurotropic opportunist Ochroconis gallopava. Species accepted within the lineages are keyed out on the basis of phenotypic characters. Main ecological traits within each species are discussed. Verruconis species are thermophilic and one of them is an important agent of infection in the brain, while Ochroconis is mesophilic, several species causing infections in cold-blooded animals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott EV (1927) Scolecobasidium, a new genus of soil fungi. Mycologia 19:29–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajello L, McGinnis MR, Camper J (1977) An outbreak of phaeohyphomycosis in rainbow trout caused by Scolecobasidium humicola. Mycopathologia 62:15–22

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barker FK, Lutzoni FM (2002) The utility of the incongruence length different test. Syst Biol 51:625–637

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blalock HG, Georg LK, Derieux WT (1973) Encephalitis in Turkey poults due to Dactylaria (Diplorhinotrichum) gallopava—a case report and its experimental reproduction. Avian Dis 17:197–204

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bonham A, Singh N, Fukui M, Dominguez EA, Pankey GA, Paterson D, Fung JJ (1996) Central nervous system lesions in liver transplant recipients: prospective assessment of indication for biopsy and implication for management. 15th Ann Sci Meet Amer Soc Transpl Physicians, Dallas, K-KI-0014

  • Bowyer JD, Johnson EM, Horn EH, Gregson RM (2000) Ochroconis gallopava endophthalmitis in fludarabine treated chronic lymphocytic leukeamia. Br J Ophthalmol 84:117

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burns KE, Ohori NP, Iacono AT (2000) Dactylaria gallopava infection presenting as a pulmonary nodule in a single-lung transplant recipient. J Heart Lung Transpl 19:900–902

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castañeda RF, Gams W, Saikawa M (1997) Three new conidial fungi (Hyphomycetes) from Cuba. Nova Hedwigia 64:473–483

    Google Scholar 

  • Connole MD (1967) Some aspects of animal mycosis in Australia. Fourth Meeting of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology, New Orleans, USA

  • Crous PW, Wood AR, Okada G, Groenewald JZ (2008) Foliicolous microfungi occurring on Encephalartos. Persoonia 21:135–146

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham CW (1997) Can three incongruence tests predict when data should be combined? Mol Biol Evol 14:733–740

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davies JS, Westlake DW (1979) Crude oil utilization by fungi. Can J Microbiol 25:146–156

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Hoog GS (1985) Taxonomy of the Dactylaria complex, IV. Dactylaria, Neta, Subulispora and Scolecobasidium. Stud Mycol 26:1–60

    Google Scholar 

  • de Hoog GS, von Arx JA (1973) Revision of Scolecobasidium and Pleurophragmium. Kavaka 1:55–60

    Google Scholar 

  • de Hoog GS, Vicente VA, Najafzadeh MJ, Harrak MJ, Badali H, Seyedmousavi S (2011) Waterborne Exophiala species causing disease in cold-blooded animals. Persoonia 27:46–72

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dereeper A, Guignon V, Blanc G, Audic S, Buffet S, Chevenet F, Dufayard J-F, Guindon S, Lefort V, Lescot M, Claverie J-M, Gascuel O (2008) Phylogeny.fr: robust phylogenetic analysis for the non-specialist. Nucleic Acids Res 36:W465–W469

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon DM, Salkin IF (1986) Morphologic and physiologic studies of three dematiaceous pathogens. J Clin Microbiol 24:12–15

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doty MS, Slater DW (1946) A new species of Heterobasidium tshawytschae pathogenic on young chinook salmon. Am Midl Nat 36:663–665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis MB (1971) Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, pp 43–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis MB (1976) More Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, pp 190–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans HC (1971a) Thermophilous fungi of coal spoil tips. I. Taxonomy. Trans Br Mycol Soc 57:241–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans HC (1971b) Thermophilous fungi of coal spoil tips. II. Occurrence, distribution and temperature. Trans Br Mycol Soc 57:255–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng P, Lu Q, Najafzadeh MJ, Gerrits van den Ende AHG, Sun J, Li RY, Xi LY, Vicente VA, Lai W, Lu C, de Hoog GS (2013) Cyphellophora and its relatives in Phialophora: biodiversity and possible role in human infection. Fungal Divers. doi:10.1007/s13225-012-0194-5

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukushima N, Mannen K, Okamota S, Shinogi T, Nishimoto K, Sueoka E (2005) Disseminated Ochroconis galllopavum infection in a chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a case report and review of the literature on hematological malignancies. Intern Med 44:879–882

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fukushiro R, Udagawa S, Kawashima Y, Kawamura Y (1986) Subcutaneous abscesses caused by Ochroconis gallopavum. J Med Vet Mycol 24:175–182

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Georg LK, Bierer BW, Cooke WB (1964) Encephalitis in turkey poults due to a new fungus species. Sabouraudia 3:239–244

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goloboff PA, Carpenter JM, Arias JS, Esquivel DRM (2008) Weighting against homoplasy improves phylogenetic analysis of morphological data sets. Cladistics 24:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatai K, Kubota SS (1989) A visceral mycosis in cultured masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) caused by a species of Ochroconis. J Wildlife Dis 25:83–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman T, Arnold AE (2008) Geographic locality and host identity shape fungal endophyte communities in cupressaceous trees. Mycol Res 112:331–344

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horré R, de Hoog GS (1999) Primary cerebral infections by melanised fungi: a review. Stud Mycol 43:176–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Horré R, de Hoog GS, Kluczny C, Marklein G, Schaal KP (1999) rDNA diversity and physiology of Ochroconis and Scolecobasidium species reported from humans and other vertebrates. Stud Mycol 43:194–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenney A, Maslen M, Bergin P, Tang SK, Esmore D, Fuller A (1998) Pulmonary infection due to Ochroconis gallopavum treated successfully after orthotopic heart transplantation. Clin Infect Dis 26:236–237

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karesh WB, Russell R, Gribble D (1987) Dactylaria gallopava encephalitis in two grey-winged trumpeters (Psophia crepitans). Avian Dis 31:685–688

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kralovic SM, Rhodes JC (1995) Phaeohyphomycosis caused by Dactylaria (human dactylariosis): report of a case with review of the literature. J Infect 31:107–113

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis CT, Bilkhu S, Robert V, Eberhardt U, Szoke S, Seifert KA, Levesque A (2011) Identification of fungal DNA barcode targets and PCR primers based on Pfam protein families and taxonomic hierarchy. Open Appl Informatics J 5(Suppl 1-M5):30–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lian X, de Hoog GS (2010) Indoor wet cells harbour melanized agents of cutaneous infection. Med Mycol 48:622–628

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Machouart M, Samerpitak K, de Hoog GS, Gueidan C (2013) A multigene phylogeny reveals that Ochroconis belongs to the family Sympoventuriaceae (Venturiales, Dothideomycetes). Fungal Divers. doi:10.1007/s13225-013-0252-7

  • Malani PN, Bleicher JJ, Kauffman CA, Davenport DS (2001) Disseminated Dactylaria constricta infection in a renal transplant recipient. Transpl Infect Dis 3:40–43

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mancini MC, McGinnis MR (1992) Dactylaria infection of a human being: pulmonary disease in a heart transplant recipient. J Heart Lung Transpl 11:827–830

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin-Sanchez PM, Nováková A, Bastian F, Alabouvette C, Saiz-Jimenez C (2012) Two new species of the genus Ochroconis, O. lascauxensis and O. anomala isolated from black stains in Lascaux Cave, France. Fungal Biol 116:574–589

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matsushima T (1971) Microfungi of the Solomon Islands and Papua-New Guinea. Kobe

  • Matsushima T (1975) Icones Microfungorum a Matsushima lectorum. Kobe: 127

  • Matsushima T (1983) Matsushima Mycological Memoirs No. 3

  • Matsushima T (1993) Matsushima Mycological Memoirs No. 7

  • Mazur JE, Judson MA (2001) A case report of a Dactylaria fungal infection in a lung transplant patient. Chest 119:651–653

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohapatra N (1993) Fungal encephalitis in poultry. Poult Advis 26:61–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Najafzadeh MJ, Gueidan C, Badali H, Gerrits van den Ende AHG, Xi L, de Hoog GS (2009) Genetic diversity and species delimitation in the opportunistic genus Fonsecaea. Med Mycol 47:17–25

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Odell JA, Alvarez S, Cvitkovich DG, Cortese DA, McComb BL (2000) Multiple lung abscesses due to Ochroconis gallopavum, a dematiaceous fungus, in a nonimmunocompromised wood pulp worker. Chest 118:1503–1505

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ohori A, Endo S, Sano A, Yokoyama K, Yarita K, Yamaguchi M, Kamei K, Miyaii M, Nishimura K (2006) Rapid identification of Ochroconis gallopava by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method. Vet Microbiol 114:359–365

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Padhye AA, Amster RL, Browning M, Ewing EP (1994) Fatal encephalitis caused by Ochroconis gallopava in a domestic cat. J Med Vet Mycol 32:141–145

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pirozynski KA, Hodges CS (1973) New hyphomycetes from South Carolina. Can J Bot 51:157–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prevost-Smith E, Hutton N, Padhye AA, Upshur JK, Van Bakel AB (1993) Fatal phaeohyphomycotic infection due to Dactylaria gallopava and Scolecobasidium prolificans in a cardiac transplant. Proc 93rd Annu Meet Amer Soc Microbiol, Atlanta, F35

  • Ranck FM, Georg LK, Wallace DH (1973) Dactylariosis—a newly recognized fungus disease of chickens. Avian Dis 8:4–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Randall CJ, Owen DW (1981) Encephalitis in broiler chickens caused by a hyphomycete resembling Dactylaria gallopava. Avian Pathol 10:31–41

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Redman RS, Litvenseva A, Sheehan KB, Henson JM, Rodriguez RJ (1999) Fungi from geothermal soil in Yellowstone National Park. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:5193–5197

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rippon JW, Gerhold R, Heath M (1980) Thermotolerant fungi isolated from the thermal effluent of nuclear power generating reactors; dispersal of human opportunistic and veterinary pathogenic fungi. Mycopathologia 70:169–179

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues A, Mueller UG, Ishak HD, Bacci M Jr, Pagnocca FC (2011) Ecology of microfungal communities in gardens of fungus-growing ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): a year-long survey of three species of attine ants in Central Texas. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 78:244–255

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ross AJ, Yasutake WT (1973) Scolecobasidium humicola, a fungal pathogen of fish. J Fish Res Board Can 30:994–995

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossmann SN, Cernoch PL, Davis JR (1996) Dematiaceous fungi are an increasing cause of human disease. Clin Infect Dis 22:73–80

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roy RY, Dwivedi RS, Mishra RR (1962) Two new species of Scolecobasidium from soil. Lloydia 25:164–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakayaroj J, Preedanon S, Supaphon O, Jones EBG (2010) Phylogenetic diversity of endophyte assemblages associated with the tropical seagrass Enhalus acoroides in Thailand. Fungal Divers 42:27–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salkin IF, Dixon DM, Kemna ME, Danneman PJ, Griffith JW (1990) Fatal encephalitis caused by Dactylaria constricta var. gallopava in a snowy owl chick (Nectea scandiaca). J Clin Microbiol 28:2845–2847

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Satow MM, Attili-Angelis D, de Hoog GS, Angelis DF, Vicente VA (2008) Selective factors involved in oil flotation isolation of black yeasts from the environment. Stud Mycol 61:157–163

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schaumann K, Priebe K (1994) Ochroconis humicola causing muscular black spot disease of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Can J Bot 72:1629–1634

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shane SM, Markovits J, Snider TG, Harrington KS (1985) Encephalitis attributed to dactylariosis in Japanese quail chicks (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Avian Dis 29:822–828

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sides EH, Benson JD, Padhye AA (1991) Phaeohyphomycotic brain abscess due to Ochroconis gallopavum in patient with malignant lymphoma of large cell type. J Med Vet Mycol 29:317–322

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh N, Chang FY, Gayowski T, Marino IR (1997) Infections due to dematiaceous fungi in organ transplant recipients: case report and review. Clin Infect Dis 24:369–374

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh K, Flood J, Welsh RD, Wyckoff JH, Snider TA, Sutton DA (2006) Fatal systemic phaeohyphomycosis caused by Ochroconis gallopavum in a dog (Canis familaris). Vet Pathol 43:988–992

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tamura K, Peterson D, Peterson N, Stecher G, Nei M, Kumar S (2011) MEGA5: molecular evolutionary genetics analysis using maximum likelihood, evolutionary distance, and maximum parsimony methods. Mol Biol Evol 28:2731–2739

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tansey MR, Brock TD (1973) Dactylaria gallopava, a cause of avian encephalitis, in hot spring effluents, thermal soils and self heated coal waste piles. Nature 242:202–203

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Terreni AA, DiSalvo AF, Baker AS Jr, Crymes WB, Moris PR, Dowda H jr (1990) Disseminated Dactylaria gallopava infection in a diabetic patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia of the T-cell type. Am J Clin Pathol 94:104–107

    Google Scholar 

  • U’Ren JM, Lutzoni F, Miadlikowska J, Laetsch AD, Arnold AE (2012) Host and geographic structure of endophytic and endolichenic fungi at a continental scale. Am J Bot 99:898–914

    Google Scholar 

  • VanSteenhouse JL, Padhye AA, Ajello L (1988) Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Scolecobasidium humicola in a cat. Mycopathologia 102:123–127

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vukmir RB, Kusne S, Linden P, Pasculle W, Fothergill AW, Sheaffer J, Nieto J, Segal R, Merhav H, Martinez AJ, Rinaldi MG (1994) Successful therapy for cerebral phaeohyphomycosis due to Dactylaria gallopava in a liver transplant recipient. Clin Infect Dis 19:714–719

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wada S, Nakamura K, Hatai K (1995) First case of Ochroconis humicola infection in marine cultured fish in Japan. Fish Pathol 30:125–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wada S, Hanjavanit C, Kurata O, Hatai K (2005) Ochroconis humicola infection in red sea bream Pagus major and marble rockfish Sebasticus marmoratus cultured in Japan. Fish Sci 71:682–684

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Waldrip DW, Padhye AA, Ajello L, Ajello M (1974) Isolation of Dactylaria gallopava from broiler-house litter. Avian Dis 18:445–451

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang TK, Chiu W, Chim S, Chan TM, Wong SS, Ho PL (2003) Disseminated Ochroconis gallopavum infection in a renal transplant recipient: the first reported case and a review of the literature. Clin Nephrol 60:415–423

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weitzman I, Rosenthal SA, Shupack JL (1983) A comparison between Dactylaria gallopava and Scolecobasidium humicola: first report of an infection in tortoise caused by S. humicola. Sabouraudia 23:287–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yarita K, Sano A, Murata Y, Takayama A, Takahashi Y, Takahashi H, Yaguchi T, Ohori A, Kamei K, Miyaji M, Nishimura K (2007) Pathogenicity of Ochroconis gallopava isolated from hot spring in Japan and a review of published reports. Mycopathologia 164:135–147

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yarita K, Sano A, Samerpitak K, Kamei K, de Hoog GS, Nishimura K (2010) Ochroconis calidifluminalis, a sibling of the neurotropic pathogen O. gallopava, isolated from hot spring. Mycopathologia 170:21–30

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yi PG, Gui XLV, Shen YN, Min L, Deng SW, de Hoog GS, Samerpitak K, Wei DL (2012) First report of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Ochroconis tshawytschae in an immunocompetent patient. Med Mycol 50:637–640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan ZL, Zhang CL, Lin FC, Kubicek CP (2010) Identity, diversity, and molecular phylogeny of the endophytic mycobiota in the roots of rare wild rice (Oryza granulata) from a nature reserve in Yunnan, China. Appl Environm Microbiol 76:1642–1652

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zachariah S, Sankaran KV, Leelavathy KM (1981) A new species of Septonema from Indian soil. Mycologia 73:208–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao J, Wang Z, Li R, Wang D, Bai Y (2002) Pemphigus patient with pulmonary fungal infection caused by Ochroconis gallopava: the first case report in China. Nat Med J China 82:1310–1313

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to K. Yarita, P.M. Martin-Sanchez, C. Saiz-Jimenez, D. Attili-Angelis, A.P.M Duarte and P. Crous for strains and information. T. Chaowasku, M.J. Najafzadeh, C. Labuschagne and K. Khayhan are acknowledged for technical assistance. R. Horré is thanked for constructive discussion, and S.B.J. Menken for critical reading of the text.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. S. de Hoog.

Additional information

Taxonomic novelties: Ochroconis cordanae Samerpitak, Crous & de Hoog, Ochroconis mirabilis Samerpitak & de Hoog, Ochroconis minima (Fassat.) Samerpitak & de Hoog, Ochroconis longiphorum (Matsush.) Samerpitak & de Hoog, Ochroconis sexualis Samerpitak, Van der Linde & de Hoog, Ochroconis verrucosa (Zachariah, Sankaran & Leelav.) Samerpitak & de Hoog, Verruconis Samerpitak & de Hoog, Verruconis calidifluminalis (Yarita, Sano, de Hoog & Nishim.) Samerpitak & de Hoog, Verruconis gallopava (W.B. Cooke) Samerpitak & de Hoog, Verruconis verruculosa (R.Y. Roy, R.S. Dwivedi & R.R. Mishra) Samerpitak & de Hoog

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Samerpitak, K., Van der Linde, E., Choi, HJ. et al. Taxonomy of Ochroconis, genus including opportunistic pathogens on humans and animals. Fungal Diversity 65, 89–126 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-013-0253-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-013-0253-6

Keywords

Navigation