The following chart describes slow-growing molds which are typically the more pathogenic group.
| Organism | Disease and Site | Identifying Features | Other Comments |
Cladophialophora spp. | Chromo - and Phaeohyphomycosis; subcutaneous and brain abscess | Cladialophora-type sporulation – long chains of elliptical conidia on erect, branching conidiophores. Long chains are seen most frequently in C. bantiana. | Common airborne molds |
| Cladosporium spp. | The species capable of causing disease have been reclassified as Cladophilaphora | Note: see Cladialophora above | Common airborne molds Reclassified as Cladophilaphora: C. bantiana, C. carrionii and C. devriesii (characterized by the absence of conidiophores) |
Exophiala jeanselmei (complex) | Mycetoma and phaeohyphomycosis
| Conidiogenous rocket-shaped cells darker than the supporting hyphae w. tapering annellated zones; conidia that aggregate in loose clusters or fall down the sides of the phialides. | |
Fonsecaea complex (F. monophora, F. nubica, and F. pedrosoi - are morphologically indistinguishable) | Chromo - and Phaeohyphomycosis
| Mixed types of sporulation with distinct fonsecaea- (rhinocladiella-) type conidia produced laterally and around the tip of a straight phialide. Short chains of elliptical conidia can also be produced by the same species (acrotheca-type of sporulation). acrotheca: rhinocladiella: | Usually pathogenic; grows slowly; after 7 days develops small colony: |
Pleurostoma richardsiae (formerly Phialophora richardsiae) | Phaeohyphomycotic cyst
| Long, flask-shaped, tapered phialide (arrow) with a flat saucer-like terminus. Conidia occur in clusters at the tip of the phialide. These structures seen (at arrow) are among other fungi: | |
| Phialophora verrucosa | Chromomycosis and phaeophyomycosis; granulomatous infection seen as brown-staining grains on direct microscopic observation | Produce vase-shaped phialides with distinct collarettes. Conidia occur in clusters at the tip of the phialide. | (direct prep showing "brown grains") |
