Epicoccum pupurascens (synonym Epicoccum nigrum) is a saprophyte of worldwide distribution. It is a very common invader of many different plant types, also infecting seeds from barley, oats, wheat, and corn. Moldy paper discoloration is frequently caused by Epicoccum. It produces the pigments -carotene, torularhodin, and rhodoxanthin. Growth occurs from -3°C to 45°C, with optimum growth at 23-28°C. Germination requires relative humidity of >92%. 2 As with Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Helminthosporium, Epicoccum is a "dry weather" spore more prevalent on dry, windy days, with counts higher in the late day. In California, counts were strongly associated with strawberry and artichoke harvests.

Epicoccum is a cause of upper and lower respiratory tract disease. Compared to other fungi, the degree of Epicoccum skin sensitization is much greater than its relative prevalence in the air, producing the highest percentage of fungal skin test reactions in southeast Missouri. Epicoccum spore count rises less than a hundredth-fold those of Cladosporium were associated with greater PEFR drops in children. Epicoccum sensitization appears ten-fold higher in hospitalized asthmatics than in mild community asthmatics. The thermotolerance of this fungus, with growth at 37°C, allows it to be a human pathogen. Phaeohyphomycosis, skin disease, has been reported with Epicoccum, as has allergic fungal sinusitis. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis from a contaminated basement shower has been described.

Adapted from:

Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Vol. 96, No. 1, January 2006, Page 6 - 6

Richard W. Weber, MD

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