CHAPTER XII 

 PATHOGENIC YEASTS 



THE pathogenic yeasts, which do not sporulate, possess generally 

 the characteristics of Torula. They may be regarded as part 

 of this genus. However, Vuillemin has created a special generic 

 name for them, Cryptococcus. This name is generally used and so it 

 has been retained for this discussion. 



CRYPTOCOCCUS DEGENERANS. Vuillemin 

 Syn.: BLASTOMYCES VITRO SIMILE DEGENERANS. Roncali l 



This yeast was encountered in a ganglion of the armpit of a woman 

 attacked by a cancer and in other tumors. It was both extra- and 

 intracellular. In cancer the cells were rounded, rarely oval, isolated 

 or in groups, without capsules, with homogeneous contents, poor in 

 granulations. In cultures, the cells are elliptical, mixed with mycelial 

 forms. In carbohydrate solutions, this organism forms a scum com- 

 posed of yeasts and mycelium. In bouillon, it produces an abundant 

 sediment made up of cells and filaments. On gelatin plates, the super- 

 ficial colonies are irregular, of a grayish yellow color; there is no lique- 

 faction. On gelatin streaks, the growth is milky white. On potato, 

 the colonies are grayish white and undulated. The yeast does not 

 ferment saccharose. It is pathogenic for guinea pigs. Injections into 

 the peritoneum cause death of the animal in 15 to 30 days. 



CRYPTOCOCCUS GILCHRISTI. Vuillemin 



Syn.: ZYMONEMA GILCHRISTI. De Beurmann and Gougerot. 

 BLASTOMYCES DERMATITIS. Gilchrist and Stokes 



This yeast was found by Gilchrist 2 in a case of scrofular der- 

 matitis and later by Gilchrist and Stokes in a case of pseudo lupus 

 vulgaris. It has round, slightly oval cells, 20 or more fjL in diameter, 



1 Roncali. Die Blastomyceten in den Adeno-Carcinoman des Ovariums. 

 Cent. Bakt. 18, 1895. 



2 Giichrist. A case of blastomycetic dermititis in man. Johns Hopkins 

 Hospital Bulletin. 1896. 



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