Pathogenic fungi in Sphagnum moss
 

I read an article in a old AOS Bulletin (Vol 59, No 2, page 121). It recommended to wear rubber gloves and possibly face mask to handle sphagnum moss. The reason: there might be a "occational presence of pathogenic fungi that can infect humans through cuts in the skin and causes chronic infections that are difficult to eradicate."

What kinds of fungi are they? How serious are these infections? What are the symptons? Should I wear gloves and mask when handling sphagnum moss?

We seem to have good results using a mixture of sphagnum moss and styrofoam for oncidums.


David H

Please see Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Apparently you are correct with this assessment.

Hi Ross, Thank you for the information. It is exactly what I was looking for. David H.

The specific fungus in question is Sporothrix schenckii, the cause of "Rose Grower's Disease."

But luckily, this is actually not a very serious illness, and the risk of contracting it, even if you are exposed, is quite low unless you are immunosuppressed. And even then, the risk is low.

So...wearing gloves is probably not a bad idea, but not wearing gloves is probably fine. I'm not freaking out, and you shouldn't either.

This was a big deal when that article was first published, with everybody going 'chicken little' and freaking out. As far as I know, the sky never did fall.

As Scott already mentioned, unless your immune system is compromised, you should be fine. Fresh sphagnum moss was actually used as a wound dressing before the advent of modern bandages (and as recently as WWI I think). It has antiseptic properties in addition to being highly absorbent.

All that said, if you do develop symptoms of a disease that your physician can't figure out, you might want to tell them you are an orchid grower. Anybody but 'House' would probably not figure out a Sporothrix schenckii infection without helpful clues...