Microsporum Cookei Research Articles

Surface structure of dermatophytes as seen by the scanning electron microscope.

Several selected strains of dermatophytes, Microsporum cookei HUT-2061, Epidermophyton floccosum TEF-30, and Trichophyton species (T. tonsurans A410, T. fluviomuniense 3635, T. megnini 4034 and T. rubrum T-1005) were examined using a scanning electron microscope. The characteristic features of the dermatophytes suggest a possibility of application of this technique to classification of pathogenic fungi.

Sexual Reproduction in Histoplasma Capsulatum

Growth of fungi on plates of soil and hair has been found to stimulate many dermatophytes and related fungi to reproduce sexually (5, 8). In our laboratory such studies have led to the discovery of the ascigerous state of: Microsporum cookei Ajello (1)-Nannizzia cajetani Ajello (2); M. vanbreuseghemii Georg, Ajello, Friedman & Brinkman-N. grubyia Georg, Ajello, Friedman & Brinkman (6); Trichophyton georgiae Varsavsky & Ajello-Arthroderma ciferrii Varsavsky & Ajello (10); T. gloriae Ajello-A. gloriae Ajello (3); and T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum Neveu-Lemaire-A. benhamiae Ajello & Cheng (4). Most recently we began growing single and paired cultures of various systemic pathogens on plates of soil with several types of keratinaceous substrata. The results of our work with Histoplasma capsulatum Darling, are presented in this report.

Sexual Reproduction in Histoplasma capsulatum

Growth of fungi on plates of soil and hair has been found to stimulate many dermatophytes and related fungi to reproduce sexually (5, 8). In our laboratory such studies have led to the discovery of the ascigerous state of: Microsporum cookei Ajello (1)-Nannizzia cajetani Ajello (2); M. vanbreuseghemii Georg, Ajello, Friedman & Brinkman-N. grubyia Georg, Ajello, Friedman & Brinkman (6); Trichophyton georgiae Varsavsky & Ajello-Arthroderma ciferrii Varsavsky & Ajello (10); T. gloriae Ajello-A. gloriae Ajello (3); and T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum Neveu-Lemaire-A. benhamiae Ajello & Cheng (4). Most recently we began growing single and paired cultures of various systemic pathogens on plates of soil with several types of keratinaceous substrata. The results of our work with Histoplasma capsulatum Darling, are presented in this report.

Sexual reproduction in Histoplasma capsulatum.

Growth of fungi on plates of soil and hair has been found to stimulate many dermatophytes and related fungi to reproduce sexually (5, 8). In our laboratory such studies have led to the discovery of the ascigerous state of: Microsporum cookei Ajello (1)-Nannizzia cajetani Ajello (2); M. vanbreuseghemii Georg, Ajello, Friedman & Brinkman-N. grubyia Georg, Ajello, Friedman & Brinkman (6); Trichophyton georgiae Varsavsky & Ajello-Arthroderma ciferrii Varsavsky & Ajello (10); T. gloriae Ajello-A. gloriae Ajello (3); and T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum Neveu-Lemaire-A. benhamiae Ajello & Cheng (4). Most recently we began growing single and paired cultures of various systemic pathogens on plates of soil with several types of keratinaceous substrata. The results of our work with Histoplasma capsulatum Darling, are presented in this report.

Observations sur une souche deMicrosporum cookeiparasite du cynocephale (Papio papio)

SummaryA culture of Microsporum cookei has been obtained from diffuse scaly alopecia in a baboon (Papio papio). The isolate caused mild experimental infections in the baboon and guinea pig. Two morphological peculiarities of this isolate are reported, (1) abortive macroconidia limited by a fine membrane and (2) the rupture then exfoliation of a similar membrane external to a macroconidial wall.

A survey of soil inhabiting dermatophytes and related keratinophilic fungi of India.

The first comprehensive survey of soil-inhabiting dermatophytes and related keratinophilic fungi of India is reported. Of the 485 soil samples examined by hair baiting 45·9% yielded keratinophilic fungi. Among the species isolated were Keratinophyton terreum (32·3%), Microsporum gypseum (11·7%) and one of its cleistocarpic states, Nannizzia incurvata, Ctenomyces serratus (2·4%), Trichophyton evolceanui (2·0%), Keratinomyces ajelloi (1·2%), Chrysosporium tropicum (0·6%) and Microsporum cookei (0·2%). Mixed growth was noted in 14% of the soil samples. In general keratinophilic fungi were met with in a great variety of soil sources. However, soils from shady and moist sites rich in organic or keratin matter or both appeared to be more suitable than others. Saline soils, barren roadside soils, dry river sand and beach sand proved to be poor sources of keratinophilic fungi.

Cross Mating of a Strain of Microsporum cookei of Japan with Another Strain of the United States

A strain of Microsporum cookei, which had been isolated by the present authors from the soil attached to the hoofs of a horse in Japan, failed to produce cleistothecia when cultured singly on the sterilized soil to which had been added keratin bait.Mating of this strain on soil cultures with another strain of the same species originated from the soil of the United States, which had been proved to be no cleistothecium-forming strain, induced the production of cleistothecia.Soil cultures of single ascospore strains and their parent strains singly and in pairs of all possible combinations showed that the species was heterothallic. These results are in agreement with those already reported by Ajello.The morphological characteristics of the cleistothecium observed by the present authors were identical to those of Nannizzia cajetana Ajello, 1961.

Isolation of Microsporum cookei from Soil Attaching to Animal Hoof

During a survey for the presence of keratinophilic fungi in soil attaching to the hoofs and claws of animals by means of a modified method of Vanbreuseghem's technique, an isolate of Microsporum cookei Ajello, 1959 was recovered from a soil specimen. This specimen had been collected from the hoofs of a horse, which were free from lesions. This was the first recovery of this fungus in Japan. The morphological characteristics of this isolate were described.

Studies on fungi in coastal soils: III. An ecological survey of keratinophilic fungi

Soil samples collected from salt marsh and sand dune sites were baited for the isolation of keratinophilic fungi. Arthroderma curreyi was found at all sites examined and was most common at the high-water mark. Ctenomyces serratus was found only at and above the high-water mark and was most frequently isolated in bird traps on the sand dunes. Infrequently isolated were conidial Nannizzia cajetana (Microsporum cookei) from the high-water mark and conidial A. quadrifidum (Trichophyton terrestre) from bird trap soil.

The Pigments of Microsporum Cookei

Microsporum cookei, dermatophyte species recently described by Ajello (1), produces macroconidia which resemble those of M. gypseum in shape, but which have tremendously thickened cell walls. When grown in culture on Sabouraud's agar, < cookei produces a purplish-red pigment which diffuses into the medium (1). The present study is concerned with the chemical and physical properties of this pigment.

The incidence of microsporum cookei in Poland

73 soil samples from the soil of the region of Szczecin (Poland) were used for tests. In our investigations the method of hair baiting was used. Hairs from the Petri dishes were transferred to a solid medium of Sabouraud with addition of actidion and antibiotics (according toGeorg).M. cookei was three times isolated by the authors. Inoculations of two weeks old cultures ofM. cookei were made in five volunteers. These tests showed that the strains isolated by us did not possess any pathogenicity.

Occurrence of Microsporum cookei in Africa

Occurrence of Microsporum cookei in Africa

The ascigerous state ofMicrosporum cookei

Sexual reproduction developed spontaneously in a soil isolate of Microsporum cookei. Cleistothecial formation was induced in a second soil isolate by growing it on horse hair on a soil plate. The perfect form of M. cookei was classified in the genus Nannizzia of Stockdale and given the name of N. cajetana. Through the mating of single ascospore cultures of N. cajetana with 10 isolates of M. cookei, cleistothecia were produced by 5 of the isolates.

III. Some extra-human reservoirs of pathogenic fungi in New Zealand

1. 1) An investigation into the incidence of pathogenic fungi in 148 non-domestic mammals and 167 soil samples has been carried out. 2. 2) Trichophyton mentagrophytes was isolated from 25 hedgehogs and one opossum. T. terrestre was isolated from five hedgehogs; Microsporum cookei and Keratinomyces ajelloi were each recovered once from an opossum. 3. 3) Candida albicans was isolated from the intestinal tract of two hedgehogs and five cats. 4. 4) Five strains of C. albicans, one strain each of Microsporum gypseum, M. cookei and T. terrestre, and 67 of K. ajelloi, were isolated from soil samples. 5. 5) The results of the investigation are discussed and attention is drawn to the very high infection rate of T. mentagrophytes in hedgehogs.