The Morphologic and Serologic Relationships of the Various Fungi Causing Dermatitis Verrucosa (Chromoblastomycosis) 1

The literature concerning the fungi pathogenic for man is confusing because of the constantly changing terminology and reclassification of the etiologic agents. Many of the changes in classification have been the result of studies of incomplete collections of fungi or studies based on descriptions rather than a working knowledge of the fungi. One of the most confusing and chaotic situations in this respect is that pertaining to the fungi causing dermatitis verrucosa (chromoblastomycosis). One of the organisms found in this disease, Hormodendrum Pedrosoi Brumpt 1922 (1), has been placed by various observers in five different genera, namely: Acrotheca (2), Trichosporium (3, 4), Gomphinaria (5), Botrytoides (6), and Phialoconidiophora (6). Such a situation is confusing not only to the medical man whose knowledge of the fungi is necessarily limited but also to the well trained mycologist. Obviously, for such a situation to exist, either the fungi reported or the genera proposed are imperfectly known.