Tetraploa sp

Mitosporic fungus. Hyphomycetes.

Tetraploa species comprise a very small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is somewhat related to Triposporium and Diplocladiella. The only reported human infections are two cases of keratitis (1970, 1980) and one case of subcutaneous infection of the knee (1990). No information is available regarding other health effects or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. Usually identified on spore trap samples where it is seen every few weeks. (Spores have very distinctive morphology.) Our laboratory has never found this organism growing on indoor environmental surfaces. Natural habitat includes leaf bases and stems just above the soil on many kinds of plants and trees.