[Epidemiologic study of mycetomas in Mexico. Apropos of 502 cases]. / Etude épidémiologique des mycétomes au Mexique. A propos de 502 cas.

The epidemiological data of 502 mycetomas studied in the Department of Mycology, "Centro Dermatológico Pascua", Mexico City, were analysed. Mycetomas prevail in males (79.7%), they are more frequent between 16 and 45 years of age (75%) and among rural workers (62.5%); they preferentially affect lower limbs (62.5%); these data are generally similar to the known publications on the matter. Actinomycetomas are the most frequent with 97.2% of the cases, distributed as follows: Nocardia: 85.6% among which 71.9% are N. brasiliensis, Actinomadura madurae: 9.6%, Streptomyces somaliensis: 1.6%, Actinomadura pelletieri: only one case: 0.2%. Eumycetomas, a total of 9, are due to Madurella mycetomi (2), Madurella grisea (2), an undetermined black grain (1), Acremonium sp. and Fusarium sp. (1), Fusarium, sp. (1), Pseudallescheria boydii (1), and an undetermined white grain (1).

Nutritional studies on Paracoccidioides brasiliensis: the role of organic sulfur in dimorphism.

The nutritional requirements of the mycelial and yeast-like phases of the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a human pathogen, were investigated. For all nine isolates tested, mycelial cells were prototrophic, whereas yeast-like cells required a sulfur-containing amino acid for growth. Moreover, changing the source of nitrogen greatly affected the morphology of the yeast-like cells.

[Phagocytosis of Candida albicans by polymorphonuclear leucocytes from patients with nodular lepromatous leprosy]. / Phagocytose de Candida albicans par des leucocytes polynucléaires obtenus de malades atteints de lèpre lépromateuse nodulaire.

Patients suffering from nodular lepromatous leprosy are deficient in cellular immunity but may not be more susceptible to other infections. Therefore it is possible that other defense mechanisms are operational in dealing with other infectious agents these patients may be exposed to. In this report, the phagocytic and fungicidal activity of polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells against Candida albicans was examined using PMN from 20 nodular lepromatous patients and from 20 healthy subjects (controls). The method used was that of PMN adherence to glass. The phagocytic activity was evaluated after 15 mn and 45 mn. We observed that there was phagocytized by 94 % of the PMN from patients and by 95 % of the PMN from the controls. The phagocytic index of the yeasts ingested by the PMN were 4.47 and 4.10 for, respectively, patients and controls. The frequencies of yeasts killed by PMN from patients and controls were, respectively, 29.6 and 29.4 %. The results indicated that PMN from patients and healthy controls had the same capacity to phagocytize and to destroy yeasts of C. albicans.

[DNA base composition in strains of "Sporothrix schenckii" and "Ceratocystis" (author's transl)]. / Etude de la composition en bases de l'acide désoxyribonucléique de souches de Sporothrix schenckii et de Ceratocystis.

Deoxyribonucleic acid base composition, as measured by guanine and cytosine content, was determined in strains of Ceratocystis minor, C. stenoceras and Sporothrix schenckii. The value for C. minor is 51.2 and the average value is 52.4 for C. stenoceras and 54.5 for S. schenckii. These values are in agreement with a close relationship between these fungi.

[Polysaccharides from "Sporothrix schenkii" (author's transl)]. / Les différentes fractions polyosidiques de Sporothrix schenckii.

The whole cells and purified cell walls of Sporothrix schenckii were extracted with various solvents. Using hydrolysis, the fractions obtained afforded mannose, glucose, rhamnose as main sugars, and galactose. The repartition of polysaccharides was different according to the solvent used. These polysaccharides could be used as antigens for diagnosis and to follow the evolution of the sporotrichosis.

Estudio comparativo de la flora fungica de la piel sana y de la piel enferma. / Comparative study between the fungous flora of the healthy and sick skin

Se hace un estudio comparativo y simultaneo entre la flora fungica de la piel sana y enferma de 100 pacientes con diversas enfermedades cutaneas. Para la toma de muestras se utilizo la tecnica del tapiz. Se encontraron hongos sobre la piel sana en 46% y en numero inferior en la piel enferma, aunque en esta con mayor numero de especies. No se encontro diferencia entre los hongos aislados y las regiones sanas o enfermas muestreadas. Predominaron los generos Penicillum, Aspergillus y Candida. Se concluye que las lesiones humedas favorecen el desarrollo de levaduras, pero que los hongos saprofitos conservan su caracter como tales tanto sobre la piel sana como sobre la piel enferma

Esporotricosis accidental adquirida en el laboratorio. Descripcion de nuevos casos. / Accidental sporotrichosis acquired in the laboratory. Description of new cases

Se describen 3 casos de esporotricosis adquiridas accidentalmente en el laboratorio como consecuencia de la manipulacion del hongo Sporothrix schenckii. Ademas se mencionan otros 3 nuevos casos cuyos datos son bien conocidos. El numero de infecciones de laboratorio por S . schenckii descritos en la literatura es probablemente inferior a la realidad. Se hace hincapie sobre la necesidad de manipular este hongo con precaucion especialmente cuando se trata de grandes volumenes de medios de cultivo

[Pathogenicity of "Candida albicans" for normal mice and mice treated by the mycotoxin diacetoxyscirpenol (author's transl)]. / Pouvoir pathogène de Candida albicans pour la souris normale ou déprimée par une mycotoxine: le diacétoxyscirpénol.

The study of the action of diacetoxyscirpenol, a mycotoxin from Fusarium, was carried out on mice. It was found that a single dose of 1/2 DL50 (4.5 mg/kg) inoculated intraperitoneally, induced a transitory diminution of weight of the spleen and thymus and fall in the percentage of blood lymphocyte. The effect on the course of candidiasis was obvious: the mice challenged with C. albicans and treated by small repeated doses of mycotoxin died more rapidly than not treated but infected mice, emphasizing significantly the effect of the immunosuppressive processus on the development of the opportunistic fungus.

[Peptide-polysaccharides isolated from the culture medium of the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis pathogenic to man]. / Etude des peptido-polyosides extraits du milieu de culture de la phase levure du Champignon pathogène de l'Homme Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

A peptido-polysaccharide isolated from the culture medium of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis has been studied. The crude product is a mixture of several polysaccharides releasing, by hydrolysis glucose, mannose and galactose. The purified fraction contains mannose (88%) and galactose (12%). This galactomannan has a molecular weight varying between 4.6.10(4) and 2.6.10(4). It is associated with a peptide containing four amino-acids.

[Effects of diacetoxyscirpenol on experimental candidiasis of mice]. / Action du diacetoxyscirpénol sur la candidose expérimentale de la Souris.

A single injection of 4.5 mg/kg of diacetoxyscirpenol (a toxin synthesized by Fusarium) into Mice challenged by C. albicans, increases significantly the development of an experimental candidiasis. Suspensions of homogenized kidneys was spread on Sabouraud dextrose agar plates and the colonies of C. albicans were counted after 24 hrs incubation. The mean values were determined. Comparison of mean values calculated for kidneys from the Mice challenged with C. albicans and those challenged with C. albicans plus toxin gave highly significant results.

Perithecial ultrastructure and formation of ascospores of Ceratocystis stenoceras (Robak) C. Moreau.

Fine details of perithecial morphology and aspects of ascospore formation of Ceratocystis stenoceras (Robak) C. Moreau are shown in electron micrographs of ultrathin sections. The envelope of the perithecial body proper consisted of two zones of cells which differed morphologically one from another. Loose aggregates of small electron opaque particles were present at the outer wall surface which may be responsible for the characteristic pigmentation of the body and neck. Cells comprising the ostiolate neck may arise as modifications of spindle-shaped cells of the inner zone of the perithecial envelope. Cell walls of the neck and of zones 1 and 2 may be composed in part of periodic acid-reactive polysaccharide. The perithecial envelope and ascogenous cells were separated by a band of several parallel, double-layered membranes which may function in some manner with biosynthetic activities of ascospore production. In general, the mechanics of ascospore formation by C. stenoceras were in most ways in agreement with recent reports of ascospore outogeny in other ascomycetous fungi. Mature ascospores were somewhat lenticular in shape and the outer space wall was finely sculptured.

[Cerebral mucormycosis in the cat caused by Mucor pusillus]. / Mucormycose cérébrale du chat due à Mucor pusillus.

The pathologic examination of the brain of a pet cat, suspected of rabies, showed lesions of mucormycosis. The causal fungus, Mucor (Rhizomucor) pusillus was isolated and identified. The authors describe the lesions produced, the experimental pathogenicity for the rabbit and the morphologic and physiologic characteristics of the isolate.

[An endemic area of sporotrichosis in Guatemala]. / Etude d'une zone d'endémie sporotrichosique au Guatémala.

An endemic area of sporotrichosis is described in the Lake of Ayarza District, South Guatemala, where 53 patients have been observed within 3 years. In 45.3% of the cases, the infection appeared after handling fish. The disease was more frequently observed in man (83%) and in patients less than 30 years of age. The most frequent clinical type was the ascending lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis of the limbs. Some cases of ulcerative or verrucous lesions were seen. Almost all the patients cured rapidly either by potassium iodide (46 patients) or spontaneously, or after application of local heat (4 patients). Intradermal tests were performed in healthy population in the endemic area and, for comparison, in Guatemala City. Whole yeast cell antigens of Sporothrix schenckii and Ceratocystis stenoceras were used in these tests. Skin tests to both antigens were more frequently positive in the endemic area; the highest frequency was obtained with the antigen of C. stenoceras. A serological study was performed in 26 patients. The fluorescent antibody staining technique was more sensitive than yeast cell and latex particles agglutinations. C. stenoceras was isolated from bark of some trees, especially Eucalyptus, in the environment, but not S. schenckii.

[Study of the sugar composition of Conidiobolus strains saprophytic or pathogenic to man and animal]. / Etudes de la composition en sucres de souches de Conidiobolus saprophytes ou pathogènes pour l'homme et l'animal.

The composition in the cell wall sugars of 13 strains of Conidiobolus coronatus and 1 strain of Conidiobolus incongruus has been determined. Glucose and mannose were found to be the main sugars. The study of the ratio mannose/glucose has shown that there are 3 groups of strains. The first group which contains the strain of C. coronatus isolated from man or chimpanzee is characterized by a ratio lying between 0.92 and 1.3. The second group containing the strains of C. coronatus isolated from horse lesion or from soil is characterized by a ratio lying between 2.7 and 4.1. The last group which contains C. incongruus whose ratio mannose/glucose is 0.44. These results suggest the existence of two groups among the strains of C. coronatus. Lethal temperature of each strain and eventual presence of villosus spores are also mentioned.