Phonetic: Scope-you-lair-ee-op’-siss

Scopulariopsis is ubiquitous and can be found on soil, plant material, feathers, insects, dung, house dust and on a wide variety of materials including old carpets and water-damaged wallpaper. The species S. fimicola is known as the white plaster mold of mushroom beds while other species may attack bee larvae and silkworms. Scopulariopsis is a type III allergen, and may cause a variety of infections in humans. It may cause onychomycosis (especially of the toenails), skin lesions, mycetoma, invasive sinusitis, keratitis, endophthalmitis, endocarditis, pneumonia, brain abscess and disseminated infections. Scopulariopsis may also cause pulmonary infections, such as an invasion of deep tissue including fungus balls in pre-formed pulmonary cavities. These are of primary concern to immune compromised hosts, and these infections may be highly fatal. The species Scopulariopsis brevicaulis may produce arsine gas if growing on building materials with an arsenic substrate, such as some types of wallpaper and paints. Culture - Potato dextrose agar, 20° – 25°C, 7 – 10 days.