RIBOSOMAL DNA INTERNAL TRANSCRIBED SPACER ANALYSIS SUPPORTS SYNONOMY OF SCEDOSPORIUM-INFLATUM AND LOMENTOSPORA PROLIFICANS

Scedosporium inflatum is a dematiaceous opportunistic pathogen origina lly described by D. Malloch and I. F. Salkin (Mycotaxon 21:247-255, 19 84). However, E. Gueho and G. S. De Hoog (J. Mycol. Med. 118:3-9, 1991 ) recently suggested reducing this mold to synonomy with Lomentospora prolificans on the basis of their similar morphological and molecular characteristics. We have investigated the ribosomal DNA internal trans cribed spacers (ITS), i.e., ITS I and ITS II, of 18 isolates, includin g these two fungi and a closely related pathogen, Scedosporium apiospe rmum, and its telemorph, Pseudallescheria boydii. Identical ITS restri ction fragment length polymorphisms were found in eight isolates of S. inflatum and L. prolificans. These results support Gueho and De Hoog' s proposal to combine S. inflatum and L. prolificans into the binomial Scedosporium prolificans, However, the ITS I sequence of S. apiosperm um and the ITS restriction fragment length polymorphisms of S. apiospe rmum and P. boydii were found to be significantly different from those of S. inflatum and L. prolificans. The ITS restriction pattern differ ences may be valuable in clinical settings for distinguishing these fu ngi.