Streptothrix Madurse, Vincent (1894). 



ORIGIN. Occurs in Madura Foot, or Mycetoma, a disease which is 

 endemic in India. It has been met with in Italy, Africa and several 

 cases have been studied in this country. The discharge in some cases 

 contains minute, black, gun-powder-like grains; in others, grayish or 

 yellowish granules are present. These granules are due to mycelial 

 growths and resemble those found in actinomycosis. 



FORM. It consists of slender, wavy threads, 1-1.5 /" wide, which 

 branch and show a radial growth, as in actinomyces. Club-shaped 

 ends, however, are absent or very feebly developed. Fragmentation 

 is frequently observed. 



ANILIN DYES. Stain readily; so does Gram's method. 



GROWTH. Is rather slow, requiring several days to form appre- 

 ciable colonies. It grows best on unneutralized potato, or in hay in- 

 fusions. 



Stab culture. In gelatin it shows a slight white growth along the line of inoculation 

 and on the surface. 



Streak culture -On ordinary agar the growth is feeble. On glucose glycerin agar it 

 forms splendid, raised, rounded, smooth colonies which are slightly yellowish, and later 

 develop frequently a rose or bright red color. These colonies adhere to the surface and are 

 very hard, as in the case of actinomyces. 



Milk. Is slowly peptonized, but is not coagulated. 



Potato. It forms, on about the 5th day, small whitish colonies which slowly de- 

 velop, forming a nodular growth. The center of each nodule is depressed. In old tubes, 

 especially on acid potatoes, a pink or deep red color may develop. A similar color develops 

 when grown on carrots. 



Bouillon. After a lapse of 2 or 3 weeks small, whitish balls form on the bottom. 

 Vegetable infusions are better than ordinary bouillon. The growth then develops in 4 or 5 

 days, as small floccules, which later become as large as a pea. The liquid does not become 

 cloudy. May grow on the surface of bouillon forming a growth like that of the tubercle 

 bacillus. 



RESISTANCE. Vitality unimpaired after drying on paper for 9 

 months, or being kept as a potato culture for 21 months. The ovoid 

 spores form on the surface, in contact with air, and are easily colored 

 with simple stains, or by Gram's method. They resist heating at 75 

 for 5 minutes. 



OXYGEN REQUIREMENTS. It is aerobic and does not grow in vacuo, 

 in COa or in illuminating gas. 



TEMPERATURE. The optimum is at 37, but it may grow at ordin- 

 ary temperature. 



BEHAVIOR TO GELATIN. It does not liquefy. 



PATHOGENESIS. Pure cultures of the original grains injected sub- 

 cutaneously or intravenously, or into the peritoneal cavity are with- 

 out effect in the guinea-pig, rabbit, dog, sheep, pigeon and chicken. 



The above organism was isolated from the yellowish caseous 

 granules mentioned above. Recently, Wright has succeeded in grow- 

 ing a streptothrix from the black granules. In this case the hyphae 

 were 3-8 n in diameter. Fragmentation was present, and in old 

 cultures black granules or sclerotia developed. It was likewise non- 

 pathogenic to animals. 



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