File:Fungal elements of Ochroconis in KOH mount of Wound Drainage.jpg

English: Ochroconis is a genus of fungi that can occasionally be associated with human infections, including wound infections. When examining a KOH (potassium hydroxide) mount of wound drainage or a clinical specimen for the presence of Ochroconis fungal elements, you might observe the following characteristics: Morphology- Ochroconis species are dematiaceous fungi, which means they have darkly pigmented cell walls. They often appear as septate hyphae, which are thin, branching structures. The color of the fungal elements may vary but is typically brown to black due to the melanin pigments present in their cell walls.Septation-Septate hyphae have cross-walls or septa that divide the hyphae into individual cells. These septa can be observed in the KOH mount and help differentiate Ochroconis from some other fungal genera. Conidia-Ochroconis species can produce conidia, which are asexual reproductive structures. The conidia are typically pigmented, oval to elongated in shape, and may be attached to the ends of conidiophores (specialized hyphae that bear conidia). Melanin Pigmentation- The presence of melanin in the fungal cell walls contributes to the dark pigmentation seen in Ochroconis species. This melanin can sometimes make the fungal elements appear more distinctive under the microscope.