Skin wound: Prothoteca species – Shipped 18 January 2016
HISTORY
This challenge was sent as a simulated wound sample. Laboratories were expected to isolate and identify Prototheca species.
MAIN EDUCATIONAL POINTS from MY1601-1
- Prototheca species are not fungi, but are classified among the lower algae.
- Identification can be usually made by the observation of endosporulating sporangia in wet slide preparations stained with lactophenol cotton blue or calcofluor white.
- The 3 main clinical presentations of Prototheca species infections are cutaneous lesions, olecranon bursitis, and disseminated systemic disease.
