A STUDY OF THE HOST-PARASITE RELATIONSHIP OF TRICHOPHYTON-MENTAGROPHYTES AND TRICHOPHYTON-RUBRUM WHEN INTRODUCED INTO THE GRANULOMA POUCH OF RATS

[摘要] (1) T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum can survive and grow beneath the epidermis in the granuloma pouch. T. mentagrophytes was re-cultured from the granuloma pouches of 2 rats 40 days post-inoculation. (2) Growth of these fungi occurred primarily by the proliferation of hyphal elements. These hyphal elements were observed histo-logically in pouches which by culture revealed the presence of viable organisms. (3) Spore formation occurred and was of the intercalary and terminal type. The formation of macroconidia and microconidia was not observed. (4) A large percentage of the fungi died shortly after inoculation into the pouch. (5) The polymorphonuclear leukocyte was the predominant cell found in association with the dying fungal elements. (6) The fixed tissue histiocytes appeared to play an active role in the ultimate disposition of fungal debris. (7) Dissemination occurred in the liver and spleen in 3 animals inoculated with T. mentagrophytes.