Studies on pathogenic dematiaceous fungi

Two hundred and twenty-six samples of woody materials, vegetable matter and soil were processed by the direct plating and mouse inoculation technique for the isolation of pathogenic dematiaceous fungi. The species of fungi isolated were Fonsecaea pedrosoi — 13, Cladosporium carrionii — 7 and Phialophora verrucosa — 4 isolates. The mouse inoculation technique was found to be much better than direct plating for the recovery of these fungi. Woody plant materials proved to be a good sample source for pathogenic dematiaceous fungi contributing about 90% of the isolates. All the isolates were pathogenic for mice as evidenced by the presence of dark nodular lesions containing fungal elements in the organs of experimentally infected animals.