CHAPTER XLVIII 

 SPOROTRICHUM SCHENKII 



Sporotrichum Schenkii occurs in the lesions of sporotrichosis, a chronic 

 infection marked by the occurrence of multiple subcutaneous gumma-like masses 

 which liquefy and discharge material similar to pus. Occasionally other parts 

 are affected, infections of the buccal and pharyngeal mucous membrane, lym- 

 phatic glands, bones and synovial membrane having fceen reported. 



Morphology. Fluid and sections of tissue from lesions show elongated oval, 

 yeast-like cells 3 ju to 6 ju long. Cultures show long delicate, septate, branched 

 filaments with clusters of from 2 to 12 or more brown spherical and oval spores, 

 about 2 fj, in diameter at their ends. 



Culture growth appears on Sabourand's agar, incubated aerobically at room 

 temperature, in 5 to 10 days. At first white, as it ages the growth darkens, 

 spreads over the entire surface and becomes brown. 



Glucose Broth. After a number of days a white pellicle forms on the sur- 

 face, the medium remaining clear. In time the pellicle precipitates and a second 

 surface pellicle may form. 



Diagnosis. Massage hard gumma-like masses or glands, if soft ones are not 

 present. With a sterile syringe and large bone needle withdraw the contents, 

 plant as much as possible up to i cc. on Sabouraud's agar slants and spread on 

 slides for immediate microscopic examination. Examine both unstained and 

 stained preparations. 



When fluid cannot be obtained or contains no organisms, pieces of diseased 

 tissue should be excised, cultured, and also sectioned for microscopic examination. 



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