PINTA 



2095 



The term Aspergillus {Trichophyton) pictor, introduced by Blanchard in 

 1895, when the plurality of species of the fungi found in pinta had not yet 

 been demonstrated, is now used in a restricted sense to indicate the Asper- 

 gillus found in the pure variety of the disease. 



Montoya beUeves that the fungi found in Columbian pinta, or caraate, are 

 different species from those found in Mexican pinta. 



Appearance oj the Fungi in Fresh Preparations. — Scrapings from 

 the patches examined in liquor potassae show in most cases between 

 the epithehal cells long dichotomous mycelial threads, from which 

 shorter and thicker branches take origin at various points. These 

 thicker branches terminate in comparatively large fructifications. 

 The morphological characters of these fructifications vary according 

 to the species and genus of the fungus present. They may be typical 

 aspergillar or penicillium-like fructifications, or they may show 

 intermediate characters between those of Aspergillus and Peni- 

 cillium. In many cases the fructification organ is represented by 

 a pear-shaped or triangular formation, surmounted by five to six 

 rods (sterigmata), each of which supports a string of five to six 

 spores. The number of these spores, however, may vary. They 

 are globular, have a smooth surface, show a double contour, and 

 their diameter is much larger than that of the mycelial tubes. 



In the cases where the fungus present is a Monilia or a Montoyella, 

 such or similar fructifications are absent, and only mycelial tubes 

 and some scattered spores are seen. 



Cultures. — The various fungi found in pinta are easily cultivated, 

 the best medium being Sabouraud's maltose agar. The optimum 

 temperature is between 30° and 40° C. 



The composition of Sabouraud's medium is: — 



Culturally, the fungi may be divided in five groups : — 



1. Those showing in cultures aspergillar fructifications. 



2. Those showing penicillium fructifications. 



3. Those showing intermediate fructifications between the Asper- 

 gillus and the Penicillium. 



4. Those showing simpler fructifications characteristic of the 

 genus Monilia — viz., a mycelial thread terminating in a single 

 string or small bunch of roundish spores. 



5. Those in which higher organs of reproduction are absent, and 

 reproduction takes place somewhat similarly to what is observed in 

 the genera Microsporum and Trichophyton — by conidia and terminal 

 segmented and unsegmented ' spindles.' The fungi of this group, 

 found by Montoya in a variety of black pinta, by Bodin, and later 

 by Castellani, in a variety of red pinta, constitute the genus Man- 

 toyella. 



Inoci4rlation Experiments. — Montoya has tried to infect rabbits, 

 using various cultures of the fungi found in the disease. On several 



Maltose 



Peptone (Chassaing) 

 Agar 



Distilled water 



4 grammes. 

 I gramme. 

 I -5 grammes. 

 ICQ c.c. 



