Species of
Chrysosporium are occasionally isolated from skin and nail scrapings, especially from feet, but, because they are common soil
saprotrophs, they are usually considered as contaminants. There are about 22 species of Chrysosporium, several are
keratinophilic with some also being
thermotolerant, and cultures may closely resemble some
dermatophytes, especially
Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and some strains may also resemble cultures of
Histoplasma and
Blastomyces Chrysosporium has been identified as an
emerging infectious disease, first in Canada affecting
reptiles at around 1995. It infected eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (
Sistrurus catenatus catenatus). By 2011, it had affected northern copperheads (
Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen),
timber rattlesnakes,
black rat snakes,
black racer snakes and
eastern garter snakes in New Jersey. ==Species==