AGf~ICULTURAL RESEARCH, PUSA.

408 PRACTICAL BAC'l'ERIOLOGl'
THE ORGANISMS OF MYCETOMA OR
MADURA FOOT
Mycetorua is an infective granuloma localised
usually to the tissues of the foot, and exhibiting no
metastases. The condition occurs only in certain
ti'opical and suhtropical countries (c.g. India, some
parts of Africa, cte.).
In the tissue lesion and pus, granules or colonies arc
noteel as in the case of actinomycosis. These granules
vary in colour; in some cases they are white or
yellow C' pale variety"), in others black (" melanoid
variety").
The pale granulcs usually represent colonies of a
streptothrix - c.g. the Strcptotlwix (or Actinomyces)
rnadumc.
Morphologically this organism rcsclnblcs the actinomyces,
but clubs are less frequently noted.
C11,lt'llTal chanwters.-It is a strict aerobe. The
optimum temperature is about 37° C. On llutrient agtu'
the gl'O"Ivth consists of' circular raised colonies like those
of the actinomyce1>, at first yellowish, later pinkish.
Other specics of strcptothrix have also been reported
in cases of InycetolllH.
The black /!,J'rtrmles ill mycc toma rcpresent hyphomyectes,
which have been designated uuder the
gcneric mune of 1l1adnTClla.
The eolonies consist of a mycelium of broad, branching,
septate hyphae 3-8{1. in breadth, and contain a
considemble amount of black pigment.
'This type of organism can be cultured on nutrient
agar, and old cultures show the black pigmentation.
A number of different varieties have bcen described
and this group has been regarded as related to the
Aspergillus,
LEPTOTHRIX
An organism of this type (vide p. 5) is a common
inhabitant of the mouth cavity, and may be detected
in films macle from the secretion or deposits of tartar
between the teeth. It is designated Leptothrix buccalis.