Ochroconis species (Hyphomycete) Fungus
Ecology:
Ochroconis
species are primarily soil saprobes (live on decaying vegetative matter), found in the soil worldwide. As of 2014, there are thirteen recognized
species of Ochroconis.
Pathology:
Ochroconis
species have been recovered from central nervous system (CNS) infections as
well as pulmonary (lung) infections, from both immunocompromised and
immuocompetent hosts. In particular, Ochroconis gallopava is considered to be
a neurotropic opportunist and proposals have been made to place this fungus
into a new genus, Verruconis.
Ochroconis
species are considered to be mesophilic (preferring moderate temperatures)
however they can cause disease in several species of cold-blooded animals,
particularly fish such as coho salmon and rainbow trout. Ochroconis
species are known to cause encephalitis in chickens, turkeys and other fowl.
Macroscopic Morphology:
The rate of growth is rather slow growing as measured by
the expanding colony but will mature to produce conidia usually within 5 days.
The texture is described as velvety to felt-like or
floccose.
The colony colour is usually a reddish-brown to chocolate
brown to a dark olive-grey. The reverse
is a dark brown to black.
A red to brown pigment may diffuse into the medium.
Ochroconis on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SAB) incubated at 30˚C for 3 weeks. (Nikon)
Ochroconis- same organism as above but with different background and lighting to show variations in texture and pigment. SAB, 30˚C, 3 weeks. (Nikon)
Ochroconis on SAB - colony center rises off and above the agar surface resembling and inverted shallow bowl. Looked like a small hollow mountain!
Below, right - shows the Reverse of the Ochroconis presented here. The lighter section which appears in the center of the larger colony is the area that has "cupped" and lifted off of the surface of the agar. (Nikon)
Microscopic Morphology:
Conidiophores are also hyaline to pale brown. They arise erect
and unbranched from the hyphae and usually have a knobby or bent
appearance. The conidiophores have apical
denticles in a sympodial arrangement from which the conidia have formed. Conidia (2.5 – 4.5 µm X 11 – 18 µm) are
usually 2 to 4 celled, depending on the species. Conidia are cylindrical to club shaped and
after detachment from the conidiophore (denticle), an inconspicuous frill may
remain on both the denticle and the conidium base.
Ochroconis species - edge of growth of slide culture as initially viewed at low magnification. Hyphae radiating out from point of inoculation after 1 week of incubation.
(LPCB, 250X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species - Conidia extending from hyphae now become evident at this higher magnification. (LPCB, 250X, Nikon)
Ochroconis species - as we once more increase magnification individual conidia attached to phialides can be seen in more detail. (LPCB, 400X, Nikon)
Ochroconis species - another view with conidia attached to their phialides. Brown pigmentation seen in lower right of photo. (LPCB, 400X, Nikon)
Ochroconis species - one more view. Remember, the fungus grows in three dimensions and even here, within the space between a microscope slide and a cover slip, hyphae and phialides extend forward, into the photo and some backwards, out of the photo. It is for this reason that the photos often appear to be out of focus as only those features that lie relatively flat along the focal plane appear clearly in the picture. (LPCB, 500X, Nikon)
Ochroconis species - a massive ammount of conidia with the most mature to the right where the brown pigment is most evident. (LPCB, 500X, Nikon)
Ochroconis species - edge of slide culture (as previous)
(LPCB, 500X, Nikon)
Ochroconis species - a hypha weaves its way from top center to bottom center of this photograph. Along its length you can see phialides with attached conidia. (LPCB, 500X, Nikon)
Ochroconis species -a two-celled conidium is seen attached to a phialide that extends from the hypha. The conidium shows a slight constriction near the center.
(LPCB, 1000X, Nikon)
Ochroconis species -Numerous phialides with attached conidia shown here. Phialides seen bearing multiple conidia. Dark pigmentation is also evident as the colony ages. Most conidia are two-celled, some showing a slight constriction near their center, others (center) showing the furthest end of the conidium being larger than that nearest the phialide from which it originated. The arrow points to a phialide which has lost it's conidium -a slight scare remains.
(LPCB, 1000X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species -a mass of darkly pigmented, septate hyphae as well as a dark blue conidium seen near the left of the photo (LPCB, 1000X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species -Hyphae with phialides bearing conidia. Arrows point to phialies with multiple (two) conidia, the one on the left showing the scar remaining after the conidium has detatched.
(LPCB, 1000X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species -a three-celled conidium appears to be present along with the more numerous two-celled conidia. (LPCB, 1000+10X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species -center of photo, conidium attached to a long phialide.
(LPCB, 1000X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species -Nice photo of a phialide bearing two conidia attached to the parent hypha.
(LPCB, 100X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species -yet another photo showing much the same. Phialides bearing multiple conidia with the arrows showing the ragged attachment points which remain after the conida have detatched.
(LPCB, 1000+10X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species -septation within the hyphae are clearly visible as is the developing brown pigmentation. Tree Conidia still attached to their brownish pigmented phialides which extend from the hyphae. Near center, one phialide is seen with a detached conidium nearby.
(LPCB, 1000X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species -Aging phialides & conidia. Brown phialide in center of photo has a thinner denticle at it's apex to which the conidium is attatched.
(LPCB, 1000X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species -again, septations in hyphae are clearly evident. Conidium near center of photo appears to be supported by a bent denticle. (LPCB, 1000+10X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species -conidium at apex attached to phialide by a short denticle.
(LPCB, 1000X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species - Seen more clearly here, the two-celled conidium is attached to the phialide via a somewhat wavy denticle. The phialide, in turn is attached to the hypha from which it originated.
(LPCB, 1000+10X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species - Here we are looking at the conidium 'head-on' so it appears spherical. The conidium is attatched to the hypha by this darkly pigment, and apparently degenerating, phialide-denticle structure. (LPCB, 1000+10X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species - Almost done here. A phialide bearing two conidia.
(LPCB, 1000+10X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species
(LPCB, 1000+10X, DMD-108)
Ochroconis species - Phialide bearing multiple conidia.
(LPCB, 1000+10X, DMD-108)
Physiology:
Growth is inhibited by cycloheximide.
Differentiation of the more
common species:
Conidia usually 4-celled = Ochroconis tshawytschae
Conidia usually 2-celled = Ochroconis gallopava
Conidia distinctly clavate (club-shaped), with the upper
cell wider than the basal cell = Ochroconis
humicola
Conidia broadly ellipsoidal and constricted at the septum
= Ochroconis constricta
Ochroconis
constricta is not known to be pathogenic
A new genus Verruconis is
proposed for the neurotropic opportunist Ochroconis gallopava.
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