In this study, we employed a molecular method for mold identification
and compared the performance of the 3 commonly
used amplification targets. Using this method, 2 genera previously
unidentified in a clinical laboratory were discovered, Coniosporium
and Geosmithia. The Coniosporium species isolate
was a slow-growing, black pigmented fungus recovered from a
toenail, and showed arthroconidia microscopically. Coniosporium,
which is known to colonize plants, has been reported in
the literature as a human pathogen recovered from a superficial
skin lesion [10]. The isolates identified as G. argillacea grew as
whitish to olive colonies and had phialides, which were difficult
to distinguish from those of Penicillium or Paecilomyces. Geosmithia
is a polyphyletic genus created to accommodate Penicillium