MY1601-1

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.

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