Mortierella sp

Zygomycetes.

Mortierella species are soil organisms, common, and are related to other zygomycetes such as Mucor. There are no reports of any health effects in humans, although some species cause abortions and pulmonary infections in cattle. No information is available regarding toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. May be identified on surfaces by tape lifts, tease mounts from bulk samples, and in air by culturable (Andersen) samples. (Spores do not have distinctive morphology and would be categorized as "other colorless" on spore trap samples.) While most recorded isolations are from soil, other sources include sugar cane, damaged grasses, and vegetable seeds. Our laboratory sees this organism occasionally in quantitative dust samples.