Aspergillus fumigatus

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 9 Aug 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Jones J, Bell D, Di Muzio B, Aspergillus fumigatus. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 19 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-8692

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-8692

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/8692

rID:

8692

Article created:

23 Feb 2010, Jeremy Jones ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.

View Jeremy Jones's current disclosures

Last revised:

9 Aug 2022, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Revisions:

3 times, by 3 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Chest

Tags:

microbiology, refs

Synonyms:

A. fumigatus

Aspergillus fumigatus is a fungus of the genus Aspergillus, and is one of the most common Aspergillus species to cause disease in immunocompromised individuals.

A. fumigatus is a saprotroph (an organism that gets its energy from non-living organic matter) that is widespread in nature, typically found in soil and decaying organic matter. Colonies produce thousands of minute grey-green conidia (2–3 μm) that readily become airborne.

Its spores are ubiquitous in the atmosphere and it is estimated that everybody inhales several hundred spores each day; typically, these are quickly eliminated by the immune system in healthy individuals.

In immunocompromised individuals the fungus is not eliminated appropriately, causing disease, commonly pulmonary aspergillosis.