COCCIDIOIDES 



985 



Genus Coccidioides Rixford and Gilchrist, 1896. 

 Definition. — Endomycetaceae with mycehum well developed and 

 asci containing a large number of spores, with intermediate char- 

 acters between Saccharomyces and Monilia. One species only: 

 Coccidioides immitis Rixford and Gilchrist, 1896. 



Coccidioides immitis Rixford and Gilchrist, 1896. 



Synonyms. — Coccidioides pyogenes Rixford and Gilchrist, 1896; 

 Oidium coccidioides Ophiils, 1905; 0. protozoides Ophiils, 1905; 

 Posadasia esferiformis Canton, 1898; Oidium immiie Verdun, 1907. 



Definition. — Coccidioides with a large number of spores in the 

 asci. 



Discovered by Wernicke in 1882 in America in a patient with 

 patches resembling a tuberculide, and gummata. In the lesions 

 roundish bodies are seen of various sizes, 3 to 80 in diameter, 

 with a well-defined thick membrane. Inside some of the bodies 

 numerous spores may be seen. This genus is not well defined. 



Cultures. — The fungus grows under two types: (i) a saccharo- 

 myces-like type, reproducing by budding; (2) a filamentous type. 



The colonies are roundish, slightly elevated, but deepening into 

 the medium. They are grey or white, but when old often become 

 brownish. In old cultures chlamydospores may be present. The 

 biochemical properties of the fungus are not known. 



Pathogenicity.- — The fungus induces in man a type of blasto- 

 mycosis (see p. 2084). It is pathogenic to monkeys, mice, guinea- 

 pigs, and rabbits. It probably lives saprophytic in nature. 



SUBCLASS EUASCOMYCETES. 



Definition. — Ascomycetes with asci not separate or scattered, 

 but approximate, usually forming a hymenium, and with a definite 

 number of spores in an ascus. 



Classification,- — According lo Stevens, the following orders may be 

 recognized : — 



A. Asci approximate, no definite ascoma, but an indefinite hymenium — 



Protodiscales. 



B. Asci grouped in a definite ascoma: — 



I. Asci not in a cylindrical or globose perithecium — Helvellales, 

 Pezizales, Phacidiales, Hysteriales, Tuberales. 

 II. Asci in a cylindrical or globose perithecium: — 

 (a) Perithecium sessile: — • 



1. Asci arising from a common level in the perithecium — 

 ' Perisporiales, Hypocriales, Dothidiales, Sphcsriales, 



Pyvenomycetes. 



2. Asci arising at different levels in the perithecium — 



Aspergillales. 



{h) Perithecium on a short pedicle — Laboulbeniales. 



Only the Aspergillales and the Pyrenomycetes interest us. The 

 latter differ from the former by having their asci arranged in a 

 hymenium within the closed ascocarp. 



