Rhizopus

Fungus found throughout the environment. It has been reported to be allergenic and it is often linked to occupational allergy. It may cause mucorosis in immune compromised individuals. It may also bring atopic diabetes, malnourished children, severely burned patients, and other diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma, immunosuppressive therapy, or use of cytotoxins and corticosteroids. The fungi show a propensity for vessel invasion resulting in embolization and necrosis of surrounding tissue. Colonies of this fungus are characterized by a reddish gray-brown indumentum that grow more than 2 cm high. It is easily recognizable by its hyaline to brown stolons, numerous branched brown rhizoids and shiny black sporangia. Spores (sporangiospores) are dimensions, ovoid-rounded to oval thick walled bodies resistant to heat and drought, pale brown and ridged, 7–12 × 6–8.5 microns. Identification is based on the way the sporangia are formed.