Penicillium species are common contaminants on various substances. This organism causes food spoilage, colonizes leather objects and is an indicator organism for dampness indoors. Some species are known to produce mycotoxins. The health of occupants may be adversely affected in an environment that has an amplification of Penicillium.

Penicillium is characterized by rapidly growing colonies having conidial structures resembling brushes. It commonly produces a strong musty odor. Penicillium marneffei is the only species of the genus that has a yeast-like phase induced by temperature. This can make it more difficult in irradiating it when an infection incurs, but not always impossible.

Growth Media

Commonly found in soil, food, cellulose and grains. It is also found in paint and compost piles. It is also commonly found in carpet, wall paper, and in organic substances inside interior fiberglass duct insulation (NC). Some species can produce mycotoxins. Common cause of extrinsic asthma (immediate-type hypersensitivity: type I). Acute symptoms include edema and bronchi spasms, chronic cases may develop pulmonary emphysema. Many patients complain of a suffocating or gasping sensation when suffering from the effects of penicillium toxicity. But unfortunately, these are also the after effects of many other toxigenic molds.

Toxin Production

Penicillium Aurantiogriseum produces mycotoxins that when ingested or inhaled in large quantities, can cause considerable harm to humans and other mammals. Exposure to large spore loads is to be avoided at all costs. There are a number of toxins reported to be produced by this fungus, and are detailed as follows:

T he neurotoxin verrucosidin is produced by this fungus. This toxin was associated with a neurological disease in cattle in the USA (J. Amer. Vet Med. Assoc. 179: 480-81,1991). The mycotoxin penicillic acid is also produced by this organism. Although nephrotoxins, which would cause liver and kidney damage, have been reported to be produced by this mold, the reports may have misidentified the mold. Both cyclopiazonic acid and penicillic acid produced by this mold have acute toxic effects on mammals , and it can be assumed that these mycotoxins are the casual agents of liver and kidney lesions in mice fed with contaminated corn.

Further products include ergosterol and the tremorgenic metabolites tremortin A and B and tremorgen. This mold is further known to produce tropolones puberulic acid and puberulonic acid, a mycotoxin of unknown structure, and a -(L)-malic acid that acts as a proteinase inhibitor. As with all toxigenic fungi, exposure to penicillium does alter human DNA and can cause permanent neurological, pathological, immunological and psychological damage.

Penicillium marneffei produces many serious infections that can be focal or disseminated that can affect the bone marrow, kidneys, lungs, intestines, liver, spleen, skin, and soft tissue. The clinical manifestations most commonly associated with Penicillium marneffei are fever, weight loss, anemia, skin lesions, cough, hepatomegaly, adenopathies, and pulmonary infiltrates.

Apparently, several points of entry are possibly for Penicillium marneffei. The skin, inhalation, and all points of the digestion tract.

Common traits among Penicillium marneffei infected individuals is who have either traveled to and from Southeast Asia and Indonesia, where this fungus is epidemic; and individuals who have been exposed to Penicillium marneffei in water damaged buildings.

This fungal pathogen is unique among Penicillium species as it is the only one to demonstrate a temperature-dependant dimorphic growth stage. A yeast-like dimorphic phase occurs in human tissue and in temperatures at 37C degrees, while at 24C degrees the mycelial phase, which can be quite helpful in devising a plan of action as far as treatments are concerned.