Exophiala /ek′sofī′ə·lə/ , a widespread genus of saprobic Fungi Imperfecti. E. jeanselmei is commonly found in soil and sewage and causes mycetoma and opportunistic infections in humans. Hortae werneckii (formerly classified as E. werneckii) is the cause of tinea nigra. Because it is so variable, some authorities have proposed dividing it into more than one species. Infection usually results from traumatic implantation and is associated with local or systemic immunosuppression.
