Neil Carlson

At a research station we had a problem with Sudan grass hay that did not dry properly.  An employee became sick while handling it.  I was able to use the foldscope to identify at least one of the organisms,
 
 Epicoccum spp.,
 
 growing on the hay.  For further information please visit
 <a alt="field-identification-of-moldy-hay-with.html" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10625/field-identification-of-moldy-hay-with.html" target="_blank">
 Field Identification of Moldy Hay
 </a>
 .

<figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8573" class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_8573" style="width: 300px">
 <a alt="20150918_105912zoom.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10625/20150918_105912zoom.jpg">
 <img alt="Epicoccum spp." class="size-medium wp-image-8573 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="8573" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20150918_105912zoom" data-recalc-dims="1" height="210" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10625/20150918_105912zoom.jpg" width="300"/>
 </a>
 <figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-8573">
 Epicoccum spp. from hay
 </figcaption>
</figure>

Moldy Hay Analysis

<a alt="DSC04635.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10700/DSC04635.jpg">
 <img alt="DSC04635" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-860 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="860" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="DSC04635" data-recalc-dims="1" height="562" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10700/DSC04635.jpg" width="1000"/>
 </a>


 Suspected mold growth is common in
 <a alt="foldscope-picture-cladosporium.html" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10700/foldscope-picture-cladosporium.html" target="_blank">
 laboratory walk-in coolers
 </a>
 .  The foldscope allowed for field identification using clear transparent tape and fingernail polish.


 <a alt="20150109_154734zoom2.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10700/20150109_154734zoom2.jpg">
 <img alt="20150109_154734zoom2" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-859 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="859" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20150109_154734zoom2" data-recalc-dims="1" height="605" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10700/20150109_154734zoom2.jpg" width="720"/>
 </a>


 After enlarging the image the
 
 Cladosporium sphaerospermum
 
 spores and mycelia were visible.  The Foldscope allowed identification to genera.  Actual identification to species required looking at the tease tape under a higher powered microscope.

Walk-in cooler contaminated with  Cladosporium sphaerospermum

I was called to do an inspection after two offices had been repeatedly water damaged due to a roof leak.  Suspected mold growth was found behind the vinyl base cove.  I used clear transparent tape and clear fingernail polish on a microscope slide to prepare the specimens.   Identification to species after digital magnification on an S-5 Samsung phone was made with little difficulty.


 <a alt="20151214_133913.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10929/20151214_133913.jpg">
 <img alt="20151214_133913" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-10931 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="10931" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20151214_133913" data-recalc-dims="1" height="300" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10929/20151214_133913.jpg" width="169"/>
 </a>
 <a alt="20151214_133913zoomup.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10929/20151214_133913zoomup.jpg">
 <img alt="20151214_133913zoomup" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-10930 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="10930" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20151214_133913zoomup" data-recalc-dims="1" height="174" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10929/20151214_133913zoomup.jpg" width="300"/>
 </a>


 The actual Foldscope image  is shown above on the left with the enlarged image of the
 
 Chaetomium spp.
 
 adjacent.


 <a alt="20151214_134907.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10929/20151214_134907.jpg">
 <img alt="20151214_134907" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-10934 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="10934" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"SAMSUNG-SM-G900A","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1450100946","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.8","iso":"64","shutter_speed":"0.033333333333333","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="20151214_134907" data-recalc-dims="1" height="169" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10929/20151214_134907.jpg" width="300"/>
 </a>
 <a alt="20151214_134907closup.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10929/20151214_134907closup.jpg">
 <img alt="20151214_134907closup" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-10933 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="10933" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="20151214_134907closup" data-recalc-dims="1" height="206" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10929/20151214_134907closup.jpg" width="300"/>
 </a>


 The actual Foldscope image  is shown above on the left with the enlarged image of the
 
 Stachybotrys spp.
 
 adjacent.


 A full description is available at
 <a alt="foldscope-mold-evaluation-after.html" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_10929/foldscope-mold-evaluation-after.html" target="_blank">
 Roof leak mold evaluation
 </a>
 .

Chaetomium ssp. and Stachybotrys spp. identification

Past water damage led to suspected mold growth in a records storage area.  The Foldscope microscope was used to identify the organisms growing on dry wall and pipe insulation.


 <a alt="20160107_083645.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_12471/20160107_083645.jpg">
 <img alt="20160107_083645" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-12472 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="12472" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"SAMSUNG-SM-G900A","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1452155805","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.8","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="20160107_083645" data-recalc-dims="1" height="169" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_12471/20160107_083645.jpg" width="300"/>
 </a>
 <a alt="20160108_075601zoom.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_12471/20160108_075601zoom.jpg">
 <img alt="20160108_075601zoom" class="alignnone wp-image-12473 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="12473" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"SAMSUNG-SM-G900A","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1452239761","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.8","iso":"50","shutter_speed":"0.033333333333333","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="20160108_075601zoom" data-recalc-dims="1" height="167" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_12471/20160108_075601zoom.jpg" width="237"/>
 </a>


 Further information available at
 <a alt="foldscope-evaluation-of-suspected-mold.html" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_12471/foldscope-evaluation-of-suspected-mold.html" target="_blank">
 Folscope evaluation of records room
 </a>

Mold investigation of records area

The Foldscope was used for field identification of mold growing on the surface of a walk in cooler in a research lab.
 <a alt="foldscope-picture-cladosporium.html" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_857/foldscope-picture-cladosporium.html" target="_blank" title="foldscope id Cladosporium spp.">
 www.sustainablemycology.blogspot.com/2015/01/foldscope-picture-cladosporium.html
 </a>


 I was pleased with the results and will attempt to identify other organisms.




 <a alt="DSC04635.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_857/DSC04635.jpg">
 <img alt="DSC04635" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-860 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="860" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="DSC04635" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_857/DSC04635.jpg"/>
 </a>


 Growth on surface of shelf in a cooler

Mold identification &#8211; Cladosporium sphaerospermum

I found that the Foldscope could be used to field identify mold on hay.  More information at


 <a alt="field-identification-of-moldy-hay-with.html" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_8570/field-identification-of-moldy-hay-with.html" target="_blank">
 Field identification of moldy hay with foldscope
 </a>

<figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8573" class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_8573" style="width: 300px">
 <a alt="20150918_105912zoom.jpg" class="gcloudimg" href="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_8570/20150918_105912zoom.jpg">
 <img alt="Epicoccum spp." class="size-medium wp-image-8573 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="8573" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="20150918_105912zoom" data-recalc-dims="1" height="210" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_8570/20150918_105912zoom.jpg" width="300"/>
 </a>
 <figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-8573">
 
 Epicoccum spp.
 
 from hay
 </figcaption>
</figure>

Using a Foldscope for identifying mold on hay

The foldscope worked well for field identification of
 
 Alternaria spp.
 
 a common leaf decay mold often found on building materials.   The image above is digitally enhanced.


 <a href="http://http://sustainablemycology.blogspot.com/2015/01/foldoscope-images.html" target="_blank" title="Alternaria spp. identification">
 Alternaria spp. Identification
 </a>
 .

Neil Carlson

Earth

Posts

Mold investigation of records area

Mold identification – Cladosporium sphaerospermum

Using a Foldscope for identifying mold on hay

Foldscope identification of Alternaria spp.

Moldy Hay Analysis

Walk-in cooler contaminated with Cladosporium sphaerospermum

Chaetomium ssp. and Stachybotrys spp. identification

Mold investigation of records area

Mold identification – Cladosporium sphaerospermum

Using a Foldscope for identifying mold on hay

Foldscope identification of Alternaria spp.

Moldy Hay Analysis

Walk-in cooler contaminated with Cladosporium sphaerospermum

Chaetomium ssp. and Stachybotrys spp. identification

Mold investigation of records area

Mold identification – Cladosporium sphaerospermum

Using a Foldscope for identifying mold on hay

Foldscope identification of Alternaria spp.

Locations

Statistics

Type of Sample

Foldscope Lens Magnification