A COMPARISON BETWEEN DACTYLARIA-GALLOPAVA AND SCOLEOCOBASIDIUM-HUMICOLA - 1ST REPORT OF AN INFECTION IN A TORTOISE CAUSED BY SCOLEOCOBASIDIUM

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 23  (4) , 287-293
Abstract
S. humicola, a soil fungus and etiologic agent of phaeohyphomycosis in fish, is herein reported to cause cutaneous lesions in a tortoise, Terrapene carolina var. carolina. S. humicola was isolated from lesions on the foot and dematiaceous hyphae were observed in KOH preparations of the biopsy and in stained preparations. This isolate and others were compared morphologically and physiologically with isolates of Dactylaria gallopava, which it resembles. D. gallopava may be differentiated from S. humicola macroscopically by the production in D. gallopava of an extensive diffusible purplish-red to reddish-brown pigment when cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar; microscopically, by the presence and usually prdominance of conidia, whose apical cell is markedly wider than the basal cell, and usually constricted at the septum; and physiologically, by the ability to grow on media containing cycloheximide and by the ability to grow well at 36-45.degree. C. In contrast, S. humicola does not usually produce a diffusible pigment on Sabouraud''s dextrose agar or if present, is not extensive; it lacks the wider upper cell; is less constricted or non-constricted at the central septum; grows on media containing cycloheximide, although some inhibition may occur; and lastly, does not grow at 36.degree. C or higher. Both species were urease positive, hydrolysed tyrosine but not casein, xanthine or gelatin.