Curvularia spp. - This spore typically has three septations (Websters Dictionary) with one middle cell larger than the other three when viewed from the proper orientation. The organism is readily grown on culture plates and easily viewed using an spore trace sample. Because the spore is often greater than 20 microns in length it will deposit in the upper respiratory tract. Due to the large size it also falls out in the air rather quickly and requires mechanical disturbance to keep it in the air. It is not uncommon to find it in an outdoor air sample when snow cover is not present.
The organisms grows on cellulose based interior surfaces with water damage. Outdoors it grows on vegetation and decaying vegetation.
The colony growth on culture plates is somewhat similar to Alternaria spp. Viewing the colony under higher magnification will easily allow differential identification. It grows well on malt extract agar.
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| Single Curvularia spp. spore - approx. 30 microns in length - N.Carlson |
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| Production of Curvularia spp. spores at various stages of maturity. An air bubble is often present in one of the cells. - N. Carlson |
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| Multiple Curvularia spp. spores - Note that there will occasionally be 4 septations or 5 cells in a spore. - N. Carlson |
Curvularia spp. growth on culture plate - N. Carlson
Curvularia spp. information from Health Homes - 2 min.
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