A Subcutaneous, Cyst-Parasite of Bullfrogs: Histocystidium ranae, n. g., n. sp.

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Abstract
Five small bullfrogs. Rana catesbeiana, collected near Woods Hole, Mass, were found to be infected with a large subcutaneous fungoid mass. The parasite, named HISTOCYSTIDIUM ranae, was concentrated chiefly posterodorsally, forming a conspicuous protuberance just above the cloacal aperture. The parasitic lump consisted of thousands of spherical cysts embedded in a myxomatous stroma of hypertrophic host tissue. Each cyst, ranging up to 0.3 mm. in diam., was covered with a double wall which consisted of an outer chromophilic one of host origin and an inner chromophobic one of parasitic origin. Internally the cysts were filled with a vacuolated syncytial protoplasmic mass. Complete developmental stages were not traced in the limited fixed material available for the study. Several cysts, however, contained tiny spherical or ovoid objects 1-2[mu] in diam., which possibly were spores. Life history possibilities were discussed as well as a review of other fungoid, cystic parasites occurring in vertebrates. The genus is considered possibly to be related to Dermocystidium, Dermomycoides or Rhinosporidium.
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