Mucor amphiborum
Mucor amphibiorum is a fungus found in Australia that causes infections in amphibians and platypuses. Because M. amphibiorum belongs to the genus Mucor, the infection is classified as a form of mucormycosis. The fungus was first reported from a German zoo in 1972 where it caused disease in a species of green tree frog that was imported from Austrialia and infected frogs, toads, and salamanders in neighboring exhibits.[1] It is most commonly found in frogs and toads in Queensland, New South Wales, and Northern Territory, and in platypuses in Tasmania.[1]
Morphology[2][edit]
Colonies grow up to 25 mm in height, are grayish brown, slightly aromatic, and will not grow at temperatures of 37° Celsius. Sporangiophores are unbranched, or rarely sympodially branched. Sporangia are dark brown and up to 75 µm in diameter. Sporangiospores are globose, smooth walled, and 3.4 – 5.4 µm in diameter. Zygospores are globose or slightly compressed and 60 – 70 µm in diameter.
References[edit]
- ^ a b Connolly, Joanne H (2015). "Mucormycosis in the platypus and amphibians caused by Mucor amphibiorum". Microbiology Australia. 36 (2): 83. doi:10.1071/MA15027. ISSN 1324-4272.
- ^ Schipper, M. A. A. (1978). (1). On certain species of Mucor with a key to all accepted species. (2). On the genera Rhizomucor and Parasitella.