Date: 26 November 2013
Aspergillus terreus Thom. Conidial head of Aspergillus terreus. Conidial heads are compact, columnar and biseriate. Conidiophores are hyaline to slightly yellow and smooth walled.
Copyright:
With thanks to G Kaminski. D Ellis and R Hermanis Mycology Unit, Women’s & Children’s Hospital , Adelaide, South Australia 5006
Notes:
Colonies on CYA 40-50 mm diam, plane, low and velutinous, usually quite dense; mycelium white; conidial production heavy, brown (Dark Blonde to Camel, 5-6D4); reverse pale to dull brown or yellow brown. Colonies on MEA 40-60 mm diam, similar to those on CYA or less dense. Colonies on G25N 18-22 mm diam, plane or irregularly wrinkled, low and sparse; conidial production light, pale brown; brown soluble pigment sometimes produced; reverse brown. No growth at 5°C. Colonies at 37°C growing very rapidly, 50 mm or more diam, of similar appearance to those on CYA at 25°C.Conidiophores borne from surface hyphae, stipes 100-250 μm long, smooth walled; vesicles 15-20 μm diam, fertile over the upper hemisphere, with densely packed, short, narrow metulae and phialides, both 5-8 μm long; conidia spherical, very small, 1.8-2.5 μm diam, smooth walled, at maturity borne in long, well defined columns.Distinctive featuresVelutinous colonies formed at both 25°C and 37°C, uniformly brown, with no other colouration, and minute conidia borne in long columns make Aspergillus terreus a distinctive species.
Images library
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X-ray two months after initiating corticosteroids, showing the interval development of a fungal ball within a cavity at the right apex surrounded by some additional small cavities medially, pleural thickening and thick wall in the cavity.
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Pt AR Interval development of chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis in the context of sarcoidosis
Follow-up film in July 2004 demonstrates the interval development of nearly confluent shadowing in the right apex with the suggestion of a fungal ball approximately 2-3cm across within the area of consolidation.
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Pt AR Interval development of chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis in the context of sarcoidosis
Close up view of adjacent X-ray
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Chronic (Cavitary) Pulmonary Aspergillosis. Aspergillus plugs. pt. DS
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Further details
Image A. December 1991. The lesions were considered to be possibly malignant and surgically resected. Histological examination showed granulomata containing hyphae consistent with Aspergillus. Fungal cultures were not done.
Image B. June 1992 Despite resection of part of the right upper-lobe, invasive aspergillosis recurred six months later. Sputum cultures grew A.fumigatus and Aspergillus antibodies were detected in serum. He responded to itraconazole but subsequently progressed.
Image C. September 1992 Although the appearance suggests the formation of aspergillomas, the contemporaneous CT scan did not confirm this.
Image K. December 1991. There are no particular distinguishing characteristics of invasive aspergillosis. The right upper-lobe was resected and histological examination showed granulomata containing hyphae consistent with Aspergillus. Fungal cultures were not done.
Image M & N. CT scan of thorax. Post RVL segmentectomy with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. CT shows patchy consolidation with cavitation in the apical segment of right lower lobe. A tiny pneumothorax can be identified posterolaterally (arrows).
Image O. Reference: Muco-cutaneous retinoid effects and facial erythema related to the novel triazole antifungal agent voriconazole. Denning, DW & Griffiths, CEM. Clin.Exp Dermatol 2001, 26(8), 648-53.
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Primary pulmonary aspergillosis evolving into chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis.
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Image A. This man presented with fever and chest pain and was treated with antibiotics. His symptoms partially improved, but slowly. He was 62 years old and had drunk alcohol to excess in the past. He was a smoker. A small infiltrate is seen in the left apex.
Image B. He remained unwell and because the evolution of his chest X-ray was reminiscent of tuberculosis, was transferred to the infectious disease department. Sputum samples were negative for acid fast bacilli (and subsequently culture negative).
Image C. He continued to cough and had low grade fever. His chest X-ray now showed extensive cavitation at the left apex.
Image D. The patient’s symptoms had now resolved. The chest X-ray shows a pair of large thick walled cavities at the left apex. He was on therapy for primary Aspergillus pneumonia (a presumptive diagnosis) with itraconazole 200 mg twice daily.
Image E. A needle biopsy was done which yielded nonspecific chronic inflammatory tissue. He was being treated with itraconazole. Serology now showed one precipitin line to Aspergillus having been negative previously and his IgE was 6000 iu/ml (normal < 150 iu/ml).
Image F. The patient was now asymptomatic on itraconazole (which was given for 6 months). His chest X-ray shows continued resolution of the cavity infiltrate.
Image G. The CT scans show left apical consolidation with cavitation, with a loose infiltrate inferiorly. The features are consistent with an apical cavitating pneumonia.
Image H. The CT scan shows left apical consolidation with cavitation, with a loose infiltrate inferiorly. The features are consistent with an apical cavitating pneumonia.
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The patient’s blood-stained thick sputum is shown B. She had tuberculosis in 1955 treated with streptomyin for 1 year. She developed a severe cough with haemoptysis in 2003 and responded to itraconazole treatment given orally. In january 2006 she deteriorated with thick purulent sputum and some hameoptysis, and this has continued intermittently since then, despite itraconazole. Her serum contains a high titre of Aspergillus precipitating antibody.
Her chest X-ray shows almost complete fibrosis of the right upper lobe with pleural thickening and one or more large cavities filled with material likely to represent an aspergilloma.
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