II02 



FUNGI IMPERFECTI 



T. ovale Unna, 1896, on the hairs of the moustache in Europe. 

 T. glycophile du Bois, 1910, on the pubic hairs of a diabetic. 

 The various species may be differentiated as follows : — 



A. Bodies around hair polyhedral : — • 



I. Diameter of bodies 12-15 microns — Giganteum. 

 II. Diameter of bodies 3-4 microns — Beigeli. 



B. Bodies around hair oval and small, 3-4 microns by i*5-2'5 microns: — 



I. In cultures hyphae often twisted like a corkscrew — Ovale. 

 II. In cultures hyphae not so twisted — Ovoides. 



C. Bodies around hair roundish, 3-4 microns in diameter : — 



Fungus associated with a coccus, with which it grows well on sugar 

 media — Glycophile. 



These fungi live parasitic on the surface of the hairs, but do not 

 penetrate into their interior; during their parasitic life they vege- 



FiG. 583. — Trichosporum. Fig. 584. — Transverse Section 



(After Vuillemin.) through a Piedra Nodule. 



tate in the shape of large oval or roundish elements, embedded 

 in an amorphous substance. Saprophytically (cultures) they vege- 

 tate, forming mycelial threads and spores. 



Trichosporum giganteum Behrend, 1890. 



This is the cause of piedra of Columbia; develops on the surface 

 of the hair in the shape of large polyhedric cells 12 to 15 in 

 diameter. Masses of the fungus form hard nodules along the hair. 

 The fungus is easily grown on various media. In cultures the 

 mycelial threads are septated, cylindrical, between i and 4 ^ wide. 

 The spores are of various dimensions, between 2 and 12 ^tt. The 

 colour of the colonies is light brownish. Horta describes in the 

 nodules of a variety of piedra certain large cyst-like bodies con- 

 taining generally eight fusiform bodies. When the membrane 

 bursts, these bodies escape, being provided with one fiagellum at 

 each end. Pinoy is inclined to consider these formations to be 

 asci containing ciliated ascospores. 



