Current section and species complex concepts in Aspergillus: recommendations for routine daily practice

The identification of fungi by molecular techniques has generated important changes in fungal taxonomy. The use of molecular tools in taxonomic studies has led to the description of some cryptic species that were placed into a complex of morphologically similar organisms and were subsequently misidentified. There are still limited data available on the prevalence of cryptic species of Aspergillus in the clinical setting, although some studies report 10-14% of the total number of Aspergillus species. In addition, the main concern about the emergence of Aspergillus cryptic species is that they can be more resistant to antifungal agents. The rise in the incidence of fungal infections and the changing landscape of epidemiology, together with the description of new pathogens and their different susceptibility profiles, make the identification by molecular methods and/or antifungal susceptibility testing the best options available for the correct management of these infections.