WHITE PIEDRA AND TRICHOSPORON SPECIES IN EQUATORIAL AFRICA .2. CLINICAL AND MYCOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONS - AN ANALYSIS OF 449 SUPERFICIAL INGUINAL SPECIMENS

Eighty-one of 449 Gabonese female patients examined were found to be p ositive for genitopubic white piedra. The association with trichobacte riosis is frequent (53 cases), and mostly seen with inguinal intertrig o. Fifty-two strains belonging to the genus Trichosporon were isolated from genital hairs as well as from inguinal intertrigo lesions. These strains were identified in accordance with previously defined morphol ogical and biochemical criteria. Three species were recognized: T. muc oides (25 strains), T. inkin (20 strains) and T. asahii (seven strains ). Their macroscopic and microscopic morphological properties, as well as their ability to reduce tetrazolium, were determined. In addition, the study of the clinical and pathogenic associations in which each o f these strains was involved revealed some of their particular propert ies.