Some studies of exoantigens for the identification of the causative agents of chromoblastomycosis

CHROMOBLASTOMYCOSIS IS A MYCOTIC INFECTION CAUSED BY A VARIETY OF DEMATIACEOUS FUNGI. THE DISEASE IS MOST COMMON IN TROPICAL AND SUB TROPICAL AREAS OF THE WORLD WHERE THE CAUSATIVE AGENTS EXIST AS SAPROPHYTES IN THE SOIL AND ARE INTRODUCED INTO THE SKIN BY TRAUMA. MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OF CHROMOBLASTOMYCOSIS IS ESTABLISHED BY THE OBSER VATION OF SCLEROTIC CELLS FROM INFECTED TISSUE. THESE CELLS ARE SPHERICAL-TO-OVATE, WITH A CHARACTERISTIC DARK WALL; THEY REPRODUCE IN TISSUE BY BINARY FISSIONAND REPRESENT THE PATHOGENIC PHASE OF THE GENERALLY MYCELIAL ORGANISM. THEY ARE DETECTABLE BY KOH MOUNTS OR HISTOPATHOLOGICALLY PREPARED MATERIAL WITH HEMATOXYLINEOSIS STAI NING