Madurella Mold SpeciesMadurella species are causative agents of Mycetoma.
(Information from
www.doctorfungus.org @ 2005) |
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Taxonomic Classifications
Kingdom:
Fungi
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Ecology Madurella is a dematiaceous, filamentous fungus found in soil with distribution restricted to certain tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, India, and South America. Madurella is pathogenic for humans and causes infections.
Species The genus Madurella contains two species namely, Madurella mycetomatis and Madurella grisea.
Pathogenicity and Health Effects Madurella species are among the fungi responsible for mycetoma infection in humans. Strains belonging to this genus are isolated particularly from cases with black – grain eumycetoma. The fungus spores enter the body via trauma and the development of the mycetoma infection is very slow which may take several years. The infection involves the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues, the fascia, and the bones and the infection remains localized only. Other effects include tumefaction and draining sinuses.
Macroscopic Appearance Ø Growth rate is slow and colonies are raised to heaped and at times radially folded with glabrous to wooly texture; Ø The surface colony color is from white to yellow – brown to dark gray or olive brown while the reverse is dark brown in color and sometimes with the production of a brown diffusible pigment; and Ø Exposure at 37°C leads to an optimum growth of Madurella mycetomatis while Madurella grisea grows poorly or does not grow at all at this temperature.
Microscopic Appearance Ø Septate, sterile hyphae, chlamydospores, and sclerotia (large and black hyphal masses) are present; Ø Phialides with vase – shaped collarettes are occasionally produced by Madurella mycetomatis on weak media which bear round or oval conidia at their tips; and Ø Madurella strains are dematiaceous and sterile under laboratory conditions.
Laboratory Precautions General laboratory precautions are required, no special safety measures needed.
Susceptibility
A combination of
antifungal and surgical therapy is usually ideal for treatment of mycetoma
infections. Ketoconazole gives favorable response rates when used for
prolonged period of time of as long as 8 to 24 months while griseofulvin
may be used in patients who do not have any reactions to ketoconazole.
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The mycological information gathered
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