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Studies on a saprophyte of Exophiala dermatitidis isolated from a humidifier

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Abstract

Black yeast (MM-7) isolated from a humidifier was studied morphologically, biologically and serologically. Furthermore, its pathogenicity was compared with that of four human isolates of Exophiala dermatitidis.

The MM-7 is dimorphic and its growth at 37 °C was better than that at 27 °C. Giant colonies of the MM-7 were very similar to those of the four human isolates. Microscopically, hyphae were pale brown, slender or toruloid. Cylindrical, bottle- or flaskshaped conidiogenous cells arose from the tips and sides of the hyphae. Conidiogenous foci were also seen as small projections at the lateral walls of hyphae. One to four projections were seen at the conidiogenous apices by scanning electron microscopy. Annellation could be observed clearly on them. It was also seen in all of the human isolates of E. dermatitidis used for reference. Conidia were globose to subglobose, one celled, smooth, hyaline to brown.

The MM-7 utilized all carbon compounds examined except lactose, melibiose and raffinose. It split arbutin, but did not hydrolyze starch. It utilized neither potassium nitrate, nor hydrolyzed skim milk and gelatin.

The GC content of the MM-7 (56.6%) was almost the same as that of Kano's isolate (58%) and titers of agglutinin of the anti-E. dermatitidis serum to the MM-7 and four isolates of the fungus were 512-fold.

From these morphological, biological and serological examinations the MM-7 was identified as E. dermatitidis (Kano) de Hoog.

As far as pathogenicity is concerned, the MM-7 showed the strongest pathogenicity of all. Two of the ten mice inoculated intravenously with 5×106 cells of the MM-7 died on the 6th and 7th day, and the fungus was recovered from various organs. Histopathologically, the brains were affected severely. A large number of polymorphonuclear leucocytes accumulated around short hyphae and yeast cells to form micro-abscesses. Some micro-granulomatous lesions with a few yeast cells were also observed. Seven of the surviving eight mice showed nervous symptoms. The MM-7 was recovered from the brains of the four mice sacrificed on the 30th day. Some granulomatous lesions with a few yeast cells were recognized in the tissues.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Hygiene, Research Institute for Chemobiodynamics, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, 280, Chiba, Japan

    K. Nishimura & M. Miyaji

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  1. K. Nishimura
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  2. M. Miyaji
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Nishimura, K., Miyaji, M. Studies on a saprophyte of Exophiala dermatitidis isolated from a humidifier. Mycopathologia 77, 173–181 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00518803

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