Effect of Dactinomycin on Pathogenic Fungi

Abstract

Epidermophyton floccosumgrown on Sabouraud's glucose agar containing dactinomycin did not become pleomorphic for nine weeks in contrast to cultures grown on Sabouraud's glucose agar alone, which became pleomorphic in three weeks. Growth ofE floccosumandCryptococcus neoformanswas inhibited, whereas no inhibition was observed on the growth ofMicrosporum canis,M gypseum, andCandida albicans. However, macroconidia ofM canis,M gypseum, andE floccosumwere studied. While the growth ofCr neoformanswas inhibited by dactinomycin in concentration between 15 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml, the drug had no therapeutic effect in experimental cryptococcosis. One control mouse survived 50 days, whereas the rest died of the infection in five to seven days. The difference between the histopathological changes of the mouse which survived and the one which did on the fifth day are reported.