🍄⭐The April mushroom of the month is Apophysomyces trapeziformis
🙌 to Toni for correctly identifying this mushroom and the newest member of the society.
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A Microscopic menace
Survivors of the Joplin tornado of 2011 thought the worst was behind them once the storm passed. After all, the EF5 tornado had destroyed 4,000 homes, damaged 8,000 buildings and taken 158 lives. However, the storm had awakened a microscopic menace, the parasitic fungi Apophysomyces trapeziformis. Commonly found in soil rich in decayed plant material, this fungus is typically harmless. However, in extreme situations when it is introduced directly into the bloodstream, it can be deadly.
Taxonomy & Ecology
Apophysomyces is a genus of filamentous fungi that are commonly found in soil and decaying vegetation. Species normally grow in tropical to subtropical regions. A. trapeziformis is characterized by trapezoid-shaped sporangiospores, distinguishing it from other species within the genus. Normally, no special precautions are needed with regard to this fungus. However, 2 species in this genus, A. elegans and A. trapeziformis, are able to cause mucormycosis, in humans, which is often fatal but very rare.
a Cautionary tale
Steven Weersing was sucked from his car by the Joplin tornado. He was one of 13 people who began suffering from a fungal infection suspected to be cutaneous necrotizing mucormycosis after sustaining traumatic injuries from the storm. All of those affected were in the direct path of the storm, and it is hypothesized that the injuries they sustained allowed the fungus to penetrate deeply into their bloodstream. With their bodies weakened, the infection as able to take hold. Global incidence of this kind of infection is low, with roughly 1,500 cases detected worldwide. Mortality rates range from 35% to 100% depending on underlying conditions. Steven survived but his body will forever bear the scars of the infection.
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