The mold, Stachybotrys spp. does not grow well on DG-18 as it needs a higher moisture content. It has somewhat restrictive growth on MEA and PDA. When a colony of Stachybotrys spp. is growing in a damp environment the spores are held together in a mass at the top of the conidiophore and do not release well into the environment. When the spores are dry they are able to be more readily released usually with the help of mechanical forces.
The organism prefers to grow on wet cellulose material. It prefers an area that has repeated intermittent water damage. It is often found on a ceiling tile underneath an intermittent roof or plumbing leak.
The spores are typically approximately 10 -13 microns long by 4 to 5 microns wide. These spores will settle out rather quickly in the environment and much faster than Aspergillus spp. or Penicillium spp. spores. Because of this, lower counts of this organism will trigger an investigation to find the source in the environment.
Air-o-cell cassettes or spore trap samplers will work well for sampling Stachybotrys spp. in the environment. The spore shape (a miniature rugby football) and its dark graphite color make it easy to identify directly under the microscope.
Stachybotrys spp. dissecting scope low power
 |
| Stachybotrys spp. growing in culture |
 |
| Stachybotrys spp. growing on paper from sheetrock. |
Stachybotrys spp. conidiophore in culture 400x each division is 2.5 microns wide
 |
| Stachybotrys spp. spores on a spore trape (Air-o-cell cassette) sample |
IAQ video network - Stachybotrys chartarum facts.
Life cycle of Stachybotrys video
No comments:
Post a Comment