Serpula Lacrymans

Common cause of extrinsic asthma (immediate-type hypersensitivity: type I). Acute symptoms include edema and bronchiospasms; chronic cases may develop pulmonary emphysema.

Serpula lacrymans is the fungus that has been considered responsible for a condition that attacks buildings known as dry rot. It is known to appear in strands, large cracks in wood in square-like formation, tubular foramtion, skin-like formation and the most extreme is the fruit body’s formation. It is seen as a brown rot in buildings and is said to cause the most extensive damage especially on wood that has come in contact with wet bricks. It is said to thrive in temperatures between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius but it is not clear how much light exposure is needed for Serpula Lacrymans growth. It is said to grow near ventilation shafts and in places with high oxygen concentration levels and the fruit body formation will happen with 30% to 40% moisture levels.

In as much as Serpula Lacrymans is known as 'dry rot', it so happens to thrive in damp conditions. However, it will not happen in permanent dampness, just random damp situations that will dry up then cause dry rot and this could be caused by rainwater systems' faults as well as leaks from internal plumbing. Serpula Lacrymans can penetrate inches into the affected timber and also plaster in contact with this timber and this is by creeping between the wet brick work and contact plaster and this could take time to detect.

Symptoms or warning signs of Serpula Lacrymans are a bark brown or rust-colored formation around the spore, formation of spore dust in places with no carpeting or in areas like skirting board gaps, a strong mushroom odor around the fungi, spider web or white cotton wool-like formations that are dependent on humidity levels and the affected timber has cracks and whitens before becoming light in weight and easily crumbles.

A disease most likely to be caused by Serpula Lacrymans is extrinsic asthma also known as 'immediate-type hypersensitivity Type 1'. It is likely to cause symptoms of diseases like edema, bronchiospasms and pulmonary emphysema but it is not considered a black mold which is a highly toxic form of fungi. This fungus has been actively found in particular world regions like North Carolina, East Asia, the Himalayas, and the Czech Republic with a less aggressive type found in North America.

In order to get rid of Serpula Lacrymans and any formations it may have caused, one must remove the entire affected area as traces left behind could continue thriving and causing further damage to the building. It is important to note that it can penetrate mortar and affect bricks but it will not eat through it and these must be removed and replaced as well. One should look for leaks and faults that could bring in moisture into the establishment or home so as to nip the fungus infections in the bud. From the first appearance of fruit body to the weakening wood spots, one should have their building checked for these infections and treatment procedures carried out to cut short damages that have caused homes and buildings in the UK alone over 150 million Pounds per year in damages.