Species/common name/teleomorph:

Cladosphialophora spp. including C. carrionii and C. bantiana

Natural habitat

Soil and rotten plant material. 

Geography

Worldwide distribution, especially semi-arid regions

Frequency

Unknown.

Diseases

Cladophialophora spp. are causative agents of phaeohyphomycosis, chromoblastomycosis, and mycetoma. Species of this genera have been isolated from cutaneous, subcutaneous and disseminated infections. C. bantiana causes cerebral phaehyphomycosis in immunocompetent patients.

Culture peculiarities

Colonies restricted powdery to woolly, olivaceous green to black. Conidiophores mostly absent or not well developed; unicellular conidia in chains without pigmented scares.

Antifungal resistance (intrinsic and acquired)

Intrinsically resistant to fluconazole. High MICs to echinocandins and some strains show high MICs to amphotericin B.

Biosafety level 2/3

Most species can be handled in a biosafety level 2 laboratory. Cladophialophora bantiana is a BSL3 pathogen.