THE PHILIPPINE 



Journal of Science 



B. Tropical Medicine 



Vol. XI NOVEMBER, 1916 No. 6 



CULTIVATION OF A PATHOGENIC FUNGUS WHICH EXHIBITS 

 BOTRYOID AND LEUCOCYTELIKE PARASITIC FORMS ^ 



By H. Windsor Wade 

 (From the Biological Laboratory, Bureau of Science, Manila, P. I.) 



SIX PLATES 



In the Philippine Islands, as in other tropical regions, the 

 material available for the study of fungus infections is more 

 abundant than in most other parts of the world. Not only are 

 mycotic lesions very common, but it appears that there are here 

 to be found new types of infectious fungi, some of which, at least, 

 present features that have rarely or never been described as 

 occurring among such organisms. 



The purpose of the present communication is to report a re- 

 cently isolated fungus which possesses a remarkable range of 

 morphologic variation and which is, perhaps, related to, or pos- 

 sibly itself is, the etiological factor of certain conditions whose 

 cause is not understood. In one of its phases this organism 

 produces minute endospores, somewhat like those of bacteria, but 

 quite different from any of the recognized spores of fungi. 

 Another feature is the resemblance of forms which the fungus 

 may assume to certain body cells, particularly the lymphoid and 

 plasma cells. These leucocytelike parasites occur in the active 

 lesions, and in certain cultures their development can be followed. 

 These and other features that the fungus presents in its various 

 phases and modes of development appear not to be peculiar to 

 this fungus alone and seem of considerable interest not only 

 from the standpoint of the pathologist, but also from that of 

 the mycologist. 



' Received for publication September 1, 1916. 

 148941 267 



