Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 16:00:00 -0400
From: Kelly Zytaruk <kingfish!zytaruk@sx.com>
Subject: [8033] re:Sphagnum fungus

Phil Diamond was asking about a fungus in sphagnum.
I assume that this is what he is refering to. I don't know the reference
in the AOS, but I found this several months ago on Compuserve.

Sporotrichosis - Northern writes, "This is a choronic infection caused by
the organism Sporothrix schenkii, a fungus present worldwide in soil, on
plants, in decaying timbers, hay and among other things, on ordinary
sphagnum moss.  It enters the body through an ordinary cut, usually on the
hand, and spreads along the lymph vessels, along which it's course can be
traced.  It produces hard nodules under the skin, which may or may not be
painful, but which eventually ulcerate and drain [your basic, industrial
dermatitis - yeech, bummer] and may persist for a long time.  It can also
spread throughout the body, even to the lungs; when thus widesperead it is
difficult to cure.  The early stages can be treated with potassium iodide,
under a doctor's care of course.  And, of course, a doctor should be
consulted at the first sign of infection. It is advised that rubber gloves
be worn when handling sphagnum, or that it not be used at all.  Only an
occasional orchid grower becomes infected, but is not uncommon among rose
growers, who one would imagine, have thorn caused wounds."

Kelly