Mucor amphiborum explained

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 Australia 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.

Morphology[2]

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.

Notes and References

  1. Connolly . Joanne H . 2015 . Mucormycosis in the platypus and amphibians caused by Mucor amphibiorum . Microbiology Australia . en . 36 . 2 . 83 . 10.1071/MA15027 . 1324-4272.
  2. Book: Schipper, M. A. A. . (1). On certain species of Mucor with a key to all accepted species. (2). On the genera Rhizomucor and Parasitella. . 1978.