Zygomycosis and the Joplin Tornado

Large Pauciseptate Hyphae—Calcofluor White

July 2011

This is calcofluor white stain that we use for looking at clinical specimens underneath the microscope for direct exam. And this happens to be hyphae of a zygomycetes fluorescing blue-white with calcofluor white. Calcofluor white is a fluorescent brightener that is found in textiles to make them whiter. And someone found out that when combined with fungi and under fluorescent microscopy will fluoresce this color or another color depending on the filters that you use but in this situation, you can see the hyphae that are very long and they branch at right angles and not at forty five degree angles and there may be a few septations in there but predominately it is non-septate.

< Previous Slide

Calcofluor White

Next Slide >

 

Jump to section:

• Introduction
• Tragedy in Joplin
• Unsuspected Fungal Infection Infects Some Joplin Residents
• Zygomycosis
• The Zygomycetes
• The Zygomycetes
• Pauciseptate Hyphae
• Zygomycetes: Basic Structures
• Basic Structures
• Rhizopus Species
• Lichtheimia (Absidia) Species
• Lichtheimia Species
• Mucor Species
• Cunninghamella Species
• Apophysomyces elegans
• Apophysomyces elegans
• Apophysomyces elegans
• Apophysomyces elegans
• Apophysomyces elegans
• Diagnosis of Zygomycosis
• Large Pauciseptate Hyphae—H&E Stain
• Unstained Hyphal Fragment On GMS-Stained Tissue
• Vascular Invasion By Hyphae
• Large Pauciseptate Hyphae—Calcofluor White
• Video Credits
• Questions?